title: Extracellular vesicles including exosomes are mediators of signal transduction: are they protective or pathogenic?
abstract: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are signaling organelles that are released by many cell types and is highly conserved in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Based on the mechanism of biogenesis, these membranous vesicles can be classified as exosomes, shedding microvesicles, and apoptotic blebs. It is becoming clearer that these EVs mediate signal transduction in both autocrine and paracrine fashion by the transfer of proteins and RNA. While the role of EVs including exosomes in pathogenesis is well established, very little is known about their function in normal physiological conditions. Recent evidences allude that EVs can mediate both protective and pathogenic effects depending on the precise state. In this review, we discuss the involvement of EVs as mediators of signal transduction in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In addition, the role of EVs in mediating Wnt and PI3K signaling pathways is also discussed. Additional findings on the involvement of EVs in homeostasis and disease progression will promote a better biological understanding, advance future therapeutic, and diagnostic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lahiru
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gangoda
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boukouris
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathivanan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
keywords: Animal proteomics; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Microvesicles; Neurodegenerative diseases; Tumor microenvironment