Cited by 2,119Extracellular vesicles in diseaseCellular transport and secretionNanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

Exosomes: biogenesis, biologic function and clinical potential

Open access
Zhang, Yuan, Liu, Yunfeng, Liu, Haiying, Tang, Wai Ho·2019·Cell & Bioscience

Abstract

Exosomes are nano-sized biovesicles released into surrounding body fluids upon fusion of multivesicular bodies and the plasma membrane. They were shown to carry cell-specific cargos of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, and can be selectively taken up by neighboring or distant cells far from their release, reprogramming the recipient cells upon their bioactive compounds. Therefore, the regulated formation of exosomes, specific makeup of their cargo, cell-targeting specificity are of immense biological interest considering extremely high potential of exosomes as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic nanocarriers. In present review, we outline and discuss recent progress in the elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of exosome biogenesis, the molecular composition of exosomes, and technologies used in exosome research. Furthermore, we focus on the potential use of exosomes as valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for their cell-lineage and state-specific contents, and possibilities as therapeutic vehicles for drug and gene delivery. Exosome research is now in its infancy, in-depth understanding of subcellular components and mechanisms involved in exosome formation and specific cell-targeting will bring light on their physiological activities.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s13578-019-0282-2

Cites

156 of 156 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Exosomes originate from the endosomal pathway and are released by fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and plasma membranes, with sizes ranging from 30 to 150 nm.

    “Exosomes originate from the endosomal pathway and are released by fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and plasma membranes, with sizes ranging from 30 to 150 nm [120, 121].”

    From Extracellular vesicles as nanotheranostic platforms for targeted neurological disorder interventions (2024) · cites this paper as [120]

    The Exosome biogenesis section says exosomes form in late endosomes and are released when MVBs fuse with the plasma membrane. However, Table 1 in that section gives their size as 30–100 nm, not the claimed 30–150 nm; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Zhang et al. reported that exosomes were crucial not only for cell-to-cell communications, but also for metabolic and cellular processes, and the regulation of biological processes.

    “Zhang et al. reported that exosomes were crucial not only for cell-to-cell communications, but also for metabolic and cellular processes, and the regulation of biological processes [67].”

    From Exosome-functionalized magnesium-organic framework-based scaffolds with osteogenic, angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties for accelerated bone regeneration. (2022) · cites this paper as [67]

    The Introduction describes exosomes as a mode of intercellular communication that may play a major role in cellular processes. The complex-architecture section says they can modulate cellular lipid metabolism, and also describes effects on biological processes. The claim’s unqualified “crucial” overstates those qualified findings, particularly for metabolic processes beyond lipid metabolism. Our copy provides section labels but no page numbers. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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2 retracted

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Authors
Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Liu, H., & Tang, W. H.
Affiliations
Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Liu, Haiying
  • Tang, Wai Ho
Venue
Cell & Bioscience
Published
2019-02-15
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
19-19
ISSN
2045-3701 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2931418311
Cited by
2,119
References
156
Citations by year
2026: 203 · 2025: 327 · 2024: 386 · 2023: 361 · 2022: 334 · 2021: 297 · 2020: 184 · 2019: 24
FWCI
18.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell & Bioscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Extracellular vesicles in disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular transport and secretion
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
Keywords
exosomes, exosome biogenesis, multivesicular bodies, exosome cargo, exosome uptake, cell targeting, diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic factors, drug delivery, gene delivery, extracellular vesicles

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