FIGURE 1.

The EV‐crine hypothesis consists of donor cells that assemble and secrete outward bound extracellular vesicles (EV_o) that make their way via extracellular and body fluids to designated cellular or tissue targets. Upon reaching their targets, with potentially high specificity, signaling events, exchange of cellular components, or degradation activities proceed. The acceptor cell/tissue may respond (monologue) without feedback or it may participate in a feedback cycle (dialogue) by secreting EV_i (inward bound EVs) or other factors that target the donor population by selectively suppressing the assembly/secretion of Ev_o. The balance of these two biological vectors (monologues and dialogues) creates a dynamic homeostatic state