Latest news
• Welcome •
The French Society of Extracellular Vesicles (FSEV) association has been created on the 21st of April 2018. FSEV aims to promote and stimulate by all appropriate means the progress and dissemination of knowledge in the field of extracellular vesicles.
Are covered by the term « extracellular vesicles » all the vesicles surrounded by a lipid bilayer released by the cells, whether they are called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, apoptotic bodies, oncosomes, nanovesicles, or others. The purpose of the FSEV is to support the study and development of all research activities in all fields related to the study, characterization, understanding of physiological or pathological roles as well as the therapeutic or non-therapeutic use of vesicles. extracellular (eg, modification of their content). The areas concerned are very vast: metabolism, cell biology, cancers, reproduction, neuroscience, virology, immunology, physiopathology, nutrition, agronomy, regenerative medicine, gene therapy … and therefore concerns all living species and their derivatives (plants, milk, mammals, viruses, bacteria/prokaryotic cells …). Also included are all aspects of vectorization and delivery of substances or molecules within cells or tissues using extracellular vesicles, using advanced technologies and technologies in cell/molecular biology, biochemistry, cell cultures, imaging, engineering, functional genomics, chemistry or physics.
• Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) •
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid membrane-bound structures released by cells into the extracellular environment. EVs have an amazingly wide range of biological activities allowing effective communication between cells and organs during development, adulthood and aging. EVs have attracted great interest in medical research due to their diverse biological functions and potential applications in various medical fields, whether for therapeutic innovation or biomarker discovery.
Biology
EVs can vary in size and shape depending on their origin and function. Here’s a basic description of their biochemical features:
- Spherical Shape: Many extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes, have a roughly spherical shape. This is because they are enclosed by a lipid bilayer membrane, similar to a tiny bubble.
- Membrane-bound Structure: EVs have a lipid bilayer membrane that surrounds their contents, protecting them from degradation and providing a means of interaction with other cells.
- Size Variation: Extracellular vesicles can range in size from about 30 nanometers to several hundred nanometers in diameter. Exosomes, for instance, are typically smaller, ranging from 30 to 150 nanometers, while microvesicles can be larger, up to 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
- Heterogeneity: Extracellular vesicles are heterogeneous, meaning they can vary in composition, size, and content even within a single population and they can originate from inside cells or formed at the cellular membrane.
Biomedical potential
Some of the medical values of extracellular vesicles include:
- Cell Communication: EVs serve as carriers of various bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids (such as RNA and DNA), and metabolites. They can transfer these molecules between cells, thereby mediating intercellular communication and influencing physiological and pathological processes. EVs may serve as cell maintenance and stress alert systems. They may also convey toxic materials.
- Disease Biomarkers: The molecular cargo of EVs reflects the physiological or pathological state of the cells from which they originate. Therefore, EVs have the potential to serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases. EV-based biomarkers may be potentially used for disease diagnostic as well as assessing biological resiliency against disease onset & progression.
- Drug Delivery: EVs have natural biocompatibility and the ability to traverse biological barriers, making them attractive candidates for drug delivery systems. Researchers are exploring the use of EVs as vehicles to deliver therapeutic molecules, including drugs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and proteins, to target cells or tissues.
- Regenerative Medicine: EVs secreted by stem cells have been shown to possess regenerative and reparative properties. They can modulate tissue repair, angiogenesis, immune responses, and inflammation. Therefore, EV-based therapies hold promise for treating various injuries and degenerative diseases.
- Immunomodulation: EVs can modulate immune responses by carrying immunomodulatory molecules and signaling factors. They can influence the activation, differentiation, and function of immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. EV-based immunotherapies are being investigated for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer.
- Research Tools: EVs serve as valuable research tools for studying cellular communication, biomolecule trafficking, and disease mechanisms. Researchers use techniques such as isolation, characterization, and functional analysis of EVs to gain insights into various physiological and pathological processes.
Overall, extracellular vesicles hold great promise for advancing our understanding of biology and disease, as well as for developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in medicine.
However, further research is needed to fully exploit the potential of EVs and translate them into clinical applications.
