EV Tetraspanins in Regenerative Medicine

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are biological nano-sized vesicles secreted by all cell types and can be found in different species. EVs show promise in diagnostics and therapeutics due to their ability to act as intercellular messengers. The therapeutic potential of EVs in regenerative medicine has been increasing attention in recent years. Many studies have demonstrated the important role of EVs in wound healing and tissue regeneration, inhibition of inflammation, and regulation of the immune system. Tetraspanins are a family of four transmembrane proteins that participate in various physiological and pathological processes including cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, stemness, and immune regulation. Tetraspanins also serve as the characteristic molecular markers and membranous components of EVs. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the structure and function of tetraspanins, the effects of tetraspanins on EVs’ biogenesis, component sorting, transportation, and biological distribution, and discuss their potential mechanisms for influencing EVs therapeutic effects. Finally, we focus on the recent research that has shown the multiple functions of EV tetraspanins in regenerative medicine. These findings will provide suggestions for accelerating the effective implementation of EVs therapy in regenerative medicine.