title: Microvesicles as Vehicles for Tissue Regeneration: Changing of the Guards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microvesicles (MVs) have been recognised as mediators of stem cell function, enabling and guiding their regenerative effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MVs constitute one unique size class of extracellular vesicles (EVs) directly shed from the cell plasma membrane. They facilitate cell-to-cell communication via intercellular transfer of proteins, mRNA and microRNA (miRNA). MVs derived from stem cells, or stem cell regulatory cell types, have proven roles in tissue regeneration and repair processes. Their role in the maintenance of healthy tissue function throughout the life course and thus in age related health span remains to be elucidated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the biogenesis and mechanisms of action of MVs may enable the development of cell-free therapeutics capable of assisting in tissue maintenance and repair for a variety of age-related degenerative diseases. This review critically evaluates recent work published in this area and highlights important new findings demonstrating the use of MVs in tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Wohl, Translational Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, MVLS, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH UK.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panagiotou
authors.affiliation: School of Informatics, Institute of Neural and Adaptive Computation, Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh, 10 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wayne Davies
authors.affiliation: Graham Kerr, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selman
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Wohl, Translational Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, MVLS, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH UK.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shiels
keywords: Ageing; Microvesicles; Regenerative medicine; Stem cells; Tissue regeneration; extracellular vesicles