Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 2016;172:39-75. doi: 10.1007/112_2016_7.

Exosomes: From Functions in Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Diagnostic and Therapeutic Opportunities.

Reviews of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology

Jessica Carrière, Nicolas Barnich, Hang Thi Thu Nguyen

PMID: 27600934 DOI: 10.1007/112_2016_7

Abstract

Since their first description in the 1980s, exosomes, small endosomal-derived extracellular vesicles, have been involved in innate and adaptive immunity through modulating immune responses and mediating antigen presentation. Increasing evidence has reported the role of exosomes in host-pathogen interactions and particularly in the activation of antimicrobial immune responses. The growing interest concerning exosomes in infectious diseases, their accessibility in various body fluids, and their capacity to convey a rich content (e.g., proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids) to distant recipient cells led the scientific community to consider the use of exosomes as potential new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. In this review, we summarize current understandings of exosome biogenesis and their composition and highlight the function of exosomes as immunomodulators in pathological states such as in infectious disorders. The potential of using exosomes as diagnostic and therapeutic tools is also discussed.

Keywords: Exosomes; Host-pathogen interactions; Immune responses; Infectious diseases

MeSH terms

• Communicable Diseases / diagnosis
• Communicable Diseases / metabolism*
• Communicable Diseases / therapy
• Exosomes / metabolism*
• Host-Pathogen Interactions*
• Humans

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Review