Extracellular Vesicles and Their Roles in Stem Cell Biology: Concise Review

Extracellular Vesicles and Their Roles in Stem Cell Biology: Concise Review:

Stem cells generate different classes of extracellular vesicles containing bio‐active cargo. These vesicles are transferred to other cells and promote phenotypic changes. Stem cell extracellular vesicles have been shown to play important roles in development and cellular reprogramming. They are also being pursued for clinical applications, including their potential use as a drug delivery system and for their regenerative capabilities.

Abstract

Stem cells use a variety of mechanisms to help maintain their pluripotency, promote self‐renewal, as well as at the appropriate time, to differentiate into specialized cells. One such mechanism that is attracting significant attention from the stem cell, development, and regenerative medicine research communities involves a form of intercellular communication, specifically, the ability of cells to form and release non‐traditional membrane‐enclosed structures, referred to as extracellular vesicles (EVs). There are two major classes of EVs, microvesicles (MVs), which are generated through the outward budding and fission of the plasma membrane, and exosomes which are formed as multivesicular bodies (MVBs) in the endo‐lysosomal pathway that fuse with the cell surface to release their contents. While they differ in how they are formed, both MVs and exosomes have been shown to contain a diverse array of bioactive cargo, such as proteins, RNA transcripts, microRNAs, and even DNA, which can be transferred to other cells and promote phenotypic changes. Here, we will describe what is currently known regarding EVs and the roles they play in stem cell biology and different aspects of early development. We will also highlight how the EVs produced by stem cells are being aggressively pursued for clinical applications, including their potential use as therapeutic delivery systems and for their regenerative capabilities.

© AlphaMed Press 2019

Significance Statement

The ability of cells to communicate with their surroundings by producing different classes of extracellular vesicles is known to play important roles in physiological and pathological processes. Here, we will highlight what is known about this form of cell communication in the context of stem cell biology.