Critical Review of the Evolution of Extracellular Vesicles’ Knowledge: From 1946 to Today

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a family of particles/vesicles present in blood and body fluids, composed of phospholipid bilayers that carry a variety of molecules that can mediate cell communication, modulating crucial cell processes such as homeostasis, induction/dampening of inflammation, and p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2021-06, Vol.22 (12), p.6417
Main Authors: Bazzan, Erica, Tinè, Mariaenrica, Casara, Alvise, Biondini, Davide, Semenzato, Umberto, Cocconcelli, Elisabetta, Balestro, Elisabetta, Damin, Marco, Radu, Claudia Maria, Turato, Graziella, Baraldo, Simonetta, Simioni, Paolo, Spagnolo, Paolo, Saetta, Marina, Cosio, Manuel G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Biosynthesis
Body fluids
Evolution
exosomes
Extracellular vesicles
Finishes
Homeostasis
Investigations
Lipids
liposomes
Membranes
microvesicles
multivesicular bodies
Phospholipids
Physiology
Plasma
Review
Reviews
Scientific papers
Vesicles
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Summary:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a family of particles/vesicles present in blood and body fluids, composed of phospholipid bilayers that carry a variety of molecules that can mediate cell communication, modulating crucial cell processes such as homeostasis, induction/dampening of inflammation, and promotion of repair. Their existence, initially suspected in 1946 and confirmed in 1967, spurred a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications. Paradoxically, the increasing interest for EV content and function progressively reduced the relevance for a precise nomenclature in classifying EVs, therefore leading to a confusing scientific production. The aim of this review was to analyze the evolution of the progress in the knowledge and definition of EVs over the years, with an overview of the methodologies used for the identification of the vesicles, their cell of origin, and the detection of their cargo. The MISEV 2018 guidelines for the proper recognition nomenclature and ways to study EVs are summarized. The review finishes with a “more questions than answers” chapter, in which some of the problems we still face to fully understand the EV function and potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool are analyzed.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms22126417