Exosomes are derived from limiting membranes of MVBs (multivesicular bodies). They carry and transfer selected membrane and cytoplasmic proteins, mRNA and microRNA into target cells. It is due to this shipping of information that exosomes are considered to be the most promising therapeutic tool for multiple diseases. However, whereas knowledge on the composition of exosomes is rapidly increasing, the mode of selective recruitment into exosomes as well as target cell selection is poorly understood. We suggest that at least part of this task is taken over by tetraspanins. Tetraspanins, which are involved in morphogenesis, fission and fusion processes, are enriched in exosomes, and our previous work revealed that the recruitment of distinct tetraspanins into exosomes follows very selective routes, including a rearrangement of the tetraspanin web. Furthermore, only exosomes expressing a defined set of tetraspanins and associated molecules target endothelial cells, thereby contributing to angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. On the basis of these findings we hypothesize (i) that the protein assembly of exosomes and possibly the recruitment of microRNA will be regulated to a large extent by tetraspanins and (ii) that tetraspanins account for target cell selection and the tight interaction/uptake of exosomes by the target cell. Exosomes herald an unanticipated powerful path of cell–cell communication. An answer to how exosomes collect and transfer information will allow the use of Nature's concept to cope with malfunctions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2011
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
March 22 2011
Exosome target cell selection and the importance of exosomal tetraspanins: a hypothesis
Sanyukta Rana;
Sanyukta Rana
*Department of Tumor Cell Biology, University Hospital of Surgery, Im Neuenheimer Feld 365, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
Margot Zöller
Margot Zöller
1
*Department of Tumor Cell Biology, University Hospital of Surgery, Im Neuenheimer Feld 365, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
†German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 365, D 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email margot.zoeller@uni-heidelberg.de).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 31 2010
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2011 Biochemical Society
2011
Biochem Soc Trans (2011) 39 (2): 559–562.
Article history
Received:
August 31 2010
Citation
Sanyukta Rana, Margot Zöller; Exosome target cell selection and the importance of exosomal tetraspanins: a hypothesis. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2011; 39 (2): 559–562. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0390559
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.