Extracellular vesicle docking at the cellular port: Extracellular vesicle binding and uptake

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017 Jul:67:48-55. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.01.002. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid bilayer-enclosed structures that contain a variety of biological molecules shed by cells, are increasingly becoming appreciated as a major form of cell-to-cell communication. Indeed, EVs have been shown to play important roles in several physiological processes, as well as diseases such as cancer. EVs dock on to the surfaces of recipient cells where they transmit signals from the cell surface and/or transfer their contents into cells to elicit functional responses. EV docking and uptake by cells represent critical, but poorly understood processes. Here, we focus on the mechanisms by which EVs dock and transfer their contents to cells. Moreover, we highlight how these findings may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: Cancer; Docking; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Intercellular communication; Metastasis; Microvesicles; Targeting; Uptake.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biological Transport
  • Caveolins / genetics
  • Caveolins / metabolism
  • Cell Communication
  • Disease Progression
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Integrins / genetics
  • Integrins / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Membrane Microdomains / pathology
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tetraspanins / genetics
  • Tetraspanins / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Caveolins
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Integrins
  • Tetraspanins