Connecting the Dots: Milestones in the History of Extracellular Vesicle Research - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #research history
- #biological communication
- #extracellular vesicles
- The article reviews the historical milestones in extracellular vesicle (EV) research, highlighting key discoveries and conceptual shifts.
- Early observations in haemostasis led to the identification of procoagulant particles, later recognized as EVs.
- The shift from viewing EVs as cellular debris to recognizing them as regulated 'communicasomes' was pivotal.
- Key discoveries include Raposo's antigen-presenting exosomes and EV-mediated transfer of functional receptors and nucleic acids.
- EV research has implications for immunity, regeneration, oncology, and cardiovascular pathology.
- Standardization efforts, such as the ISEV guidelines and community resources like EV-TRACK, aim to address experimental reproducibility and nomenclature challenges.
- Various isolation and characterization techniques, including ultracentrifugation and flow cytometry, are discussed, alongside persistent bottlenecks.
- The article includes biographical sketches of key contributors and an overview of major EV-focused journals and ISEV meetings.