From Tumor Metastasis towards Cerebral Ischemia—Extracellular Vesicles as a General Concept of Intercellular Communication Processes

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been tremendous carriers in both experimental and translational science. These vesicles—formerly regarded as artifacts of in vitro research—have a heterogeneous population of vesicles derived from virtually all eukaryotic cells. EVs consist of a bilayer lipid structure with a diameter of about 30 to 1000 nm and have a characteristic protein and non-coding RNA content that make up different forms of EVs such as exosomes, microvesicles, and others. Despite recent progress in the EV field, which is known to serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic tools under various pathological conditions, fundamental questions are yet to be answered. This short review focuses on recently reported data regarding EVs under pathological conditions with a particular emphasis on the role of EVs under such different conditions like tumor formation and cerebral ischemia. The review strives to point out general concepts of EV intercellular communication processes that might be vital to both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the long run.