exosome, nano-sized vesicle secreted from different cell types that contains any of various biomolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids. Exosomes are enveloped in a lipid bilayer membrane, reflecting their origination from endocytic (intracellular) compartments; they range from 30–150 nm in diameter. Exosomes are secreted via exocytosis by a variety of cell types, including cancer cells, and subsequently are taken up by target cells, where they communicate information via surface protein signaling as well as through the transfer of lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules. Intercellular communication by exosomes plays a critical role in the regulation of cellular and physiological processes. Exosomes were first described in the early 1980s, when they were observed following their secretion by reticulocytes.
Exosomes are continually secreted by cells, with their release typically modulated by factors such as cellular stress and cell signaling. Once secreted, exosomes may be taken up by adjacent cells or may travel to distant cells; in some instances exosomes act on the cells from which they were secreted. Exosomes communicate a wide range of information to target cells, depending on the cell types from which they originate and depending on the cell surface proteins and biomolecules they carry. In particular, exosomes perform important activities that influence immune responses, cell proliferation, and neuronal signaling. Exosomes released from lymphocytes and macrophages, for example, express proteins of the major histocompatibility complex, which serves a critical role in antigen presentation and T-cell activation during immune responses. Exosomes are also thought to influence RNA expression and function in target cells, because of the transfer of biomolecules that are capable of actively modulating RNA targets.
Exosomes are of special interest in the field of medicine. Their ability to stimulate immune responses, for instance, has made them of particular interest in the development of novel approaches to vaccination, including the development of vaccines to treat certain cancers. In addition, because exosomes are found in body fluids such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, they are promising biomarkers for the detection of disease.