The term “extracellular vesicle” refers to a highly diverse group of membrane-derived, cargo-bearing (e.g., proteins, lipids, nucleic acids) structures that represent an important mode of intercellular communication. Based on the type of membrane from which they originate, extracellular vesicles have been divided into two broad groups: exosomes (derived from inward budding of endosomal membranes in larger structures known as multi-vesicular endosomes (MVEs)) and microvesicles (generated from outward budding of the plasma membrane).

While much is known about microvesicles and exosomes, key aspects of their biogenesis, cargo, release from cells, and targeting to recipient cells remain unclear. Complicating this research is that many features of extracellular vesicles are influenced by cell-type, stimuli from normal or pathological milieus, and the physiological state of the cell. Nevertheless, they are involved in many processes that include coagulation, immune function, and tumorigenesis. Since they are found in biological fluids, there is intense research directed at potentially using extracellular vesicles as biomarkers. Other efforts are being directed at utilizing them to carry compounds or to invoke particular responses in target cells.

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