Exosomes: Mediators of Immune Regulation

Extracellular Vesicles, including exosomes, are small membrane fragments released from many cell types, like Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). They were recognized as a mechanism of intercellular communication. They can transfer proteins, lipids and nucleic acids to other cells. Thus, they have many physiological (angiogenesis, coagulation and tissue repair, etc.) and pathological (e.g. in autoimmune diseases and cancer) effects. The immunomodulatory properties of them have drawn a lot of interest. In particular, MSC-derived exosomes seem to have therapeutic potentials for many diseases. We reviewed the biopathological effects of exosomes and their roles in modulating immune responses.