Exosome Biogenesis: Structure and Functions
YANG Ziyi, ZHAO Zihua*
Exosomes, or small extracellular vesicles, are nanoscale vesicles (typically ranging from 30 to150 nm in diameter) secreted by cells. Enclosed within a lipid bilayer, they contain bioactive molecules such asproteins, RNA, and DNA. Exosomes extensively participate in intercellular communication, cell differentiation,immune regulation, and other processes, serving as crucial mediators for intercellular information exchange andsignal transduction. This paper provides a systematic review of the biogenesis mechanisms of exosomes, including ESCRT-dependent and non-ESCRT-dependent pathways, and classifies and describes the three main types ofexosomes: protein-enriched, nucleic acid-enriched and lipid-enriched, elucidating the structure and biologicalfunctions of each type. Furthermore, exosomes also participate in various physiological processes such as cellgrowth, development, immunity and aging. Finally, this paper summarizes the challenges facing exosomes andfuture research directions, aiming to provide theoretical references for interdisciplinary research and applicationsin related fields.
CN
EN