FIG. 1.

Schematic of the biogenesis of exosomes. Invagination of the plasma membrane to form early endosomes. Involving the Golgi apparatus, DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids are incorporated by invagination of the endosomal membrane to form late endosomes. A multivesicular body is formed containing multiple intraluminal vesicles. The multivesicular body is either processed by lysosomes for degradation or fuses with the cell plasma membrane to release the intraluminal vesicles, now called exosomes, into the extracellular space. This process is called exocytosis. ER, endoplasmatic reticulum; ILV, intraluminal vesicle; MVB, multivesicular body.