Figure 1.

Extracellular vesicle (EV) biogenesis, secretion, and uptake [56]. Exosomes (20–150 nm) are intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) formed by inward budding of the endosomal membrane during maturation of multivesicular body (MVB), which are secreted upon fusion of the MVBs with the plasma membrane. Microvesicles (50–1000 nm) are a heterogeneous group of vesicles with different membranes depending on their origin and morphology. Apoptotic bodies are shedding vesicles derived from apoptotic cells. After their release into the extracellular space, EVs can bind to cell surface receptors to initiate intracellular signalling pathways. EVs can also be internalised through processes such as macropinocytosis and phagocytosis, or by fusion with the plasma membrane. The cargo of EVs consisting of proteins, nucleic acids and lipids are released in the intracellular space or taken up by the endosomal system of the recipient cell. Reproduced with permission from [56].