title: Extracellular vesicles: specialized bone messengers.
abstract: Mammalian cells actively secrete factors that contribute to shape their microenvironment. These factors either travel freely or they are enclosed within the lipid bilayer of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and regulate the function of neighboring and distant cells. EVs are secreted by a wide spectrum of cell types and are found in various biological fluids. They convey their message by mediating the horizontal transfer of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, mRNAs and miRNAs, between cells. Recent studies showed the vital roles of EVs in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In this review, we highlight the recent developments in the newly emerging EV field, including their biogenesis, molecular content and function. Moreover, we discuss the role of EVs in bone biology and their promising applications in diagnosis, drug development and regenerative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.morhayim@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Jess
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morhayim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.baroncelli@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.vanleeuwen@erasmusmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Johannes P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D022161:Transport Vesicles / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Bioactive cargo; Bone; Extracellular vesicles; Intercellular communication