GLI ESOSOMI NELLA COMUNICAZIONE CELLULA-CELLULA

Abstract

Cell to cell communication is essential for the coordination and proper organization of different cell types in multicellular systems. Cells exchange information through a multitude of mechanisms such as secreted growth factors and chemokines, small molecules (peptides, ions, bioactive lipids and nucleotides), cell-cell contact and the secretion of extracellular matrix components. Over the last few years a new and sophisticated mechanism of cell-cell communication based on extracellular vesicles has been described. Extracellular vesicles are specialized vesicles released in the extracellular space by most of cell types, under physiological and pathological conditions. Among different extracellular vesicles subtypes, exosomes (30-100 nm) have recently received most of the attention do to their ability to be messenger in intercellular communication.