In recent years, extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells, such as immune cells and nerve cells, have been attracting increased attention. These extracellular vesicles are classified into three major types: exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, based on differences in how they are produced1). Among these, exosomes have been found to play an especially important role in cellular signaling, making their application towards the treatment of diseases including cancer a prime target of research.2)
The formation of exosomes begins with the generation of early endosomes through endocytosis. These early endosomes transition to late endosomes, which can invaginate and pinch off to form intraluminal membrane vesicles (ILVs). Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) containing many of these ILVs then fuse with the cell membrane, releasing the ILVs into the extracellular space. Extracellular vesicles produced in this manner are generally referred to as exosomes.3)
TCI offers several products that can be used to inhibit the generation, release, and uptake of exosomes.
Published TCIMAIL newest issue No.197
