Hallmarks of Exosomes

Abstract

Exosomes are a new horizon in modern therapy, presenting exciting new opportunities for advanced drug delivery and targeted release. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles with a size range of 30–100 nm, secreted by all cell types in the human body and carrying a unique collection of DNA fragments, RNA species, lipids, protein biomarkers, transcription factors and metabolites. miRNAs are one of the most common RNA species in exosomes, and they play a role in a variety of biological processes including exocytosis, hematopoiesis and angiogenesis, as well as cellular communication via exosomes. Exosomes can act as cargo to transport this information from donor cells to near and long-distance target cells, participating in the reprogramming of recipient cells.

Lay abstract

Exosomes have been found in all of the body fluids, and the content of exosomes’ complex cargo is easily accessible by biological fluid sampling. The potential utility of exosome-based liquid biopsy in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer and some other disorders has been highlighted. Exosomes can be engineered to transport a variety of therapeutic payloads, such as antisense oligonucleotides, immunological modulators, therapeutic drugs and vaccines, and they can be directed to a specific target. For the first time, ten different exosome hallmarks have been categorized according to their functional capabilities in the present review article.

Keywords:

• biomarkers
• body fluids
• exosomes
• hallmarks
• miRNAs

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.