TABLE 1.

Exosome, microvesicle, apoptotic body: major differences.

	Vesicle types
Characteristics	Exosomes	Microvesicles	Apoptotic bodies
Size	30–120 nm	50–1,000 nm	500–2,000 nm
Morphology	Cup-shaped	Heterogeneous	Heterogeneous
Origin	Endolysosomal pathway; multivesicular bodies	Plasma membrane	Apoptotic cell membrane
Marker	Tetraspanins, ESCRT Components, TSG101, ALIX	Integrins, selectins, CD40	Phosphatidylserine
Mechanism of discharge	Exocytosis of multivesicular bodies	Outward budding of plasma membrane	Outward blebbing of apoptotic cell membrane
Contents	Protein, miRNA, mRNA, non-coding RNAs	Protein, miRNA, mRNA, non-coding RNAs	Nuclear fractions, cell organelles

ESCRT, endosomal sorting complex required for transport; TSG101, tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein; ALIX, programmed cell death 6 interacting protein (also known as PDCD6IP).