title: Exosomes: a common pathway for a specialized function.
abstract: Exosomes are membrane vesicles that are released by cells upon fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane. Their molecular composition reflects their origin in endosomes as intraluminal vesicles. In addition to a common set of membrane and cytosolic molecules, exosomes harbor unique subsets of proteins linked to cell type-associated functions. Exosome secretion participates in the eradication of obsolete proteins but several findings, essentially in the immune system, indicate that exosomes constitute a potential mode of intercellular communication. Release of exosomes by tumor cells and their implication in the propagation of unconventional pathogens such as prions suggests their participation in pathological situations. These findings open up new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Institut Curie, CNRS-UMR144, 75248 Paris cedex, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Niel
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Porto-Carreiro
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simoes
authors.forename: Graça
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raposo
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018621:PrPC Proteins