Exosomics

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles have been the focus of a large number of studies in the past five years. Exosomes, a subgroup of extracellular vesicles, are of particularly high interest because they partake in a wide number of biological pathways.  Produced by a variety of cells, exosomes have an important role in both physiological and pathological conditions.  Exosome cargo heavily defines the vesicles' unique characteristics, and cargo with the most intriguing prospects in its' biomedical applications is the non-coding RNAs.  Non-coding RNAs, and specifically microRNAs are implicated in the regulation of many biological processes and have been associated with numerous diseases. Exosomes containing such important cargo can be used as biomarkers, therapeutic biomaterials, or even drug carriers. The potential media use of exosomes seems promising. However, some obstacles should be overcome before their clinical application.  Synthetic exosome-like biomolecules may be a solution, but their production is still in their beginning stages. This review provides concise information regarding the current trends in exosome studies.