TABLE 3.
The sources and functions of exosomes.
| Function | Sources | Related Genes and Proteins | Applications | References |
| Influence cell proliferation and differentiation | Stem cell | miR126 | Increasing the production of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for clinical use | Liao et al., 2018 |
| The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway | Promote wound healing | Zhang W. et al., 2018 | ||
| microRNA profiles | Treatment of bone tissue defects | Wang et al., 2018b | ||
| Destroy cell integrity and inhibit cell apoptosis | Human embryonic stem cell-derived MSCs | – | Promote cartilage repair and regeneration | Zhang S. et al., 2018 |
| Cardiac-resident progenitor cells (CPCs) | Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) | Reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and protect the heart | Barile et al., 2018 | |
| Mediates cell migration | Colorectal cancer cells | MAP | It is helpful to explore the interaction between cancer cells and adjacent normal cells in vivo | Chiba et al., 2016 |
| As a biomarker | Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells | CK19 | As special markers for CRC | Xiao et al., 2019 |
| Placental Exosomes | hsa-miR-486-1-5p, hsa-miR-486-2-5p | Prevention of preeclampsia in pregnant women | Salomon et al., 2017 | |
| Presentation of antigens | Dendritic cells | Increased or decreased immune response with medical treatment | Shenoda and Ajit, 2016; Lindenbergh and Stoorvogel, 2018 | |
| Human embryonic kidney cells 293 (HEK293) | Lactadherin (LA), group-specific antigen (Gag) | The loading of antigen proteins inside exosomes helps in efficient antigen presentation | Arima et al., 2019 | |
| Mediate endocytosis | Macrophage | GFP, T cell immunoglobulin and mucin receptor 1 | Transfer of content by fusion of exosomes with the plasma membrane, as an effective carrier of antiviral therapy | Yao et al., 2018 |
| Drug loading | Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) | miR-125b-5p | As a novel drug carrier that enhances the specificity of drug delivery | Zhu et al., 2018 |
| Involvement in inflammatory responses | Human embryonic stem cell | IL-1 β | Relief of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis | Zhang S. et al., 2019 |
| Regulation of angiogenesis | Chronic myelogenous leukemia | MAPK | Exosomes induce endothelial cell ingrowth and vascularization of Matrigel plugs in mice | Taverna et al., 2012 |
| Colorectal cancer cells | miR-25-3p | Promotes vascular permeability and angiogenesis | Zeng et al., 2018 |