Table 1.

Characteristics of exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies

	Exosomes	Microvesicles	Apoptotic bodies	Ref
Size	40–100 nm	150–1000 nm	>  1000 nm	[16–18]
Composition	ProteinsLipids RNAs	ProteinsLipids RNAs	DNA fragments Degraded proteins Micronuclei Cell organelles	[19, 20]
Origin	Multivesicular bodies	Plasma membrane	Plasma membrane, cellular fragments	[21]
Release	Exocytosis of MVBs	Budding from plasma membrane	Cell shrinkage and death	[21]