The biology, function, and biomedical applications of exosomes

Raghu Kalluri, Valerie S. LeBleu

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4290 Scopus citations

Abstract

The study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has the potential to identify unknown cellular and molecular mechanisms in intercellular communication and in organ homeostasis and disease. Exosomes, with an average diameter of ~100 nanometers, are a subset of EVs. The biogenesis of exosomes involves their origin in endosomes, and subsequent interactions with other intracellular vesicles and organelles generate the final content of the exosomes. Their diverse constituents include nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, amino acids, and metabolites, which can reflect their cell of origin. In various diseases, exosomes offer a window into altered cellular or tissue states, and their detection in biological fluids potentially offers a multicomponent diagnostic readout. The efficient exchange of cellular components through exosomes can inform their applied use in designing exosome-based therapeutics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereaau6977
JournalScience
Volume367
Issue number6478
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 7 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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