Generating exosome subtypes: diverse membrane origins and mergers
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Exosomes are formally defined as extracellular vesicles, which are formed in compartments with endosomal origin by the inward budding of the endosomal limiting membrane. Recent analyses of the dynamic events within exosome-generating compartments have overturned the dogma that only late endosomal membranes produce exosomes. It is now clear that recycling endosomal, autophagic, regulated secretory, and other organelle membranes contribute to exosome production. In this opinion article, we discuss studies demonstrating the critical roles of membrane origins and mergers, together with intracompartmental microenvironments, in generating intraluminal vesicle and exosome subtypes with diverse physiological and pathological functions, both inside and outside the secreting cell. These findings provide significant opportunities to develop novel strategies that overcome the current challenges of detecting and targeting disease-relevant exosomes.
Source: Trends in Cell Biology
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $7,030
Awards: Sex Peptide-dependent microcarrier signalling in reproduction, G3753992839, Regulation and activities of amyloidogenic proteins APP and TGFBI in physiological and pathological protein aggregation, G5276291310, Regulation and functions of male-derived shed microvesicles in Drosophila reproduction, Linking reproductive behaviour and dense core granule biogenesis in secondary cells of the Drosophila male reproductive system, Regulation of exosome heterogeneity and function
OpenAlex ID: W7153615968