Microvesicles in health and disease.
Microvesicles (or MVs) are plasma membrane-derived vesicles released from most eukaryotic cells constitutively during early apoptosis or at higher levels after chemical or physical stress conditions. This review looks at some of the functions of MVs in terms of intercellular communication and ensuant signal transduction, including the transport of proteins (unconventional protein export) as well as of mRNA and microRNA. MVs also have roles in membrane repair, the removal of misfolded proteins, and in the control of apoptosis. We also discuss the role MVs have been shown to have in invasive growth and metastasis as well as in hypoxia in tumours and cerebral ischaemia. The association of MVs in infectious and autoimmune disease is also summarised together with their possible use as therapeutic agents.
Cellular and Molecular Immunology Research Centre, Faculty of Life Sciences, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London, N7 8DB, UK. j.inal@londonmet.ac.uk
Jameel M
JM
Inal
Ephraim A
EA
Ansa-Addo
Dan
D
Stratton
Sharad
S
Kholia
Samuel S
SS
Antwi-Baffour
Samireh
S
Jorfi
Sigrun
S
Lange
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001692:Biological Transport; D002450:Cell Communication; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction