Biological Functions of Extracellular Vesicles in Various Systems

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by almost all cells and are widely found in biological fluids. EVs contain a variety of bioactive substances, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites. Mounting evidence indicates that EVs not only have immunological functions of antigen presentation and immune regulation but also regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis, blood vessel formation, and information transmission. Therefore, EVs play indispensable roles in the normal physiological and pathological conditions of the body. With the development of techniques and methods for analysis of EVs, more functions of EVs in the regulation of multiple organ systems are gradually being revealed.