Table 2.
Physical and biological characteristics of exosomes, microvesicles/ectosomes, and apoptotic bodies.
| Size (nm) | Biogenesis | Enriched Markers | Sedimentation * | Origin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exosomes | 30–150 | ESCRT-dependent or independent; lipid raft | Alix, CD63, CD81, TSG101 and flotilin-1 | 100,000 g | Late endosome MVB |
| Microvesicles/ Ectosomes |
50–1000 | Cytoskeleton reorganization and pinching off | CD40, PS | 20,000 g | Plasma membrane |
| Apoptotic Bodies | 1000–5000 | Cytoskeleton reorganization and disassembly of apoptotic cells | Histones, DNA | 10,000 g | Cells undergoing apoptosis |
* centrifugation acceleration. g: gravitational acceleration; PS: phosphatidylserine; ESCRT: Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport; MVB: Multivesicular Body.