title: Extracellular Vesicles: Composition, Biological Relevance, and Methods of Study.
abstract: The release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, is a phenomenon shared by many cell types as a means of communicating with other cells and also potentially removing cell contents. The cargo of EVs includes the proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and membrane receptors of the cells from which they originate. EVs released into the extracellular space can enter body fluids and potentially reach distant tissues. Once taken up by neighboring and/or distal cells, EVs can transfer functional cargo that may alter the status of recipient cells, thereby contributing to both physiological and pathological processes. In this article, we will focus on EV composition, mechanisms of uptake, and their biological effects on recipient cells. We will also discuss established and recently developed methods used to study EVs, including isolation, quantification, labeling and imaging protocols, as well as RNA analysis.
authors.affiliation: Mikołaj P. Zaborowski ( mzaborowski@mgh.harvard.edu ; mikolaj.zaborowski@gmail.com ), Leonora Balaj ( balaj.leonora@mgh.harvard.edu ), Xandra O. Breakefield ( breakefield@hms.harvard.edu ), and Charles P. Lai ( drcplai@gmail.com ) are affiliated with the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and with the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts. XOB is also affiliated with the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and MPZ is also affiliated with the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecologic Oncology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, in Poland.
authors.forename: MikoŁaj P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zaborowski
authors.affiliation: Mikołaj P. Zaborowski ( mzaborowski@mgh.harvard.edu ; mikolaj.zaborowski@gmail.com ), Leonora Balaj ( balaj.leonora@mgh.harvard.edu ), Xandra O. Breakefield ( breakefield@hms.harvard.edu ), and Charles P. Lai ( drcplai@gmail.com ) are affiliated with the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and with the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts. XOB is also affiliated with the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and MPZ is also affiliated with the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecologic Oncology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, in Poland.
authors.forename: Leonora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balaj
authors.affiliation: Mikołaj P. Zaborowski ( mzaborowski@mgh.harvard.edu ; mikolaj.zaborowski@gmail.com ), Leonora Balaj ( balaj.leonora@mgh.harvard.edu ), Xandra O. Breakefield ( breakefield@hms.harvard.edu ), and Charles P. Lai ( drcplai@gmail.com ) are affiliated with the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and with the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts. XOB is also affiliated with the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and MPZ is also affiliated with the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecologic Oncology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, in Poland.
authors.forename: Xandra O
authors.initials: XO
authors.lastname: Breakefield
authors.affiliation: Mikołaj P. Zaborowski ( mzaborowski@mgh.harvard.edu ; mikolaj.zaborowski@gmail.com ), Leonora Balaj ( balaj.leonora@mgh.harvard.edu ), Xandra O. Breakefield ( breakefield@hms.harvard.edu ), and Charles P. Lai ( drcplai@gmail.com ) are affiliated with the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and with the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center at Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts. XOB is also affiliated with the Department of Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Charlestown, and MPZ is also affiliated with the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecologic Oncology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences, in Poland.
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lai
keywords: exosomes; extracellular vesicles; intercellular communication; methods; microvesicles