Fig. 1.

Biogenesis of extracellular vesicles. Exosomes are generated by budding of early endosomes into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) that are released upon fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with plasma membrane. MVBs usually have one of two destinies either lysosomal degradation or their release on fusion with plasma membrane, allowing their contents to be released into the extracellular environment. This release can be either ESCRT dependent or ESCRT independent. Microvesicles are generated by outward budding of the plasma membrane into the extracellular region. Apoptotic bodies are formed by the blebbing of plasma membrane from apoptotic cells