Monitoring microvesicle and exosome secretion from immune cells by Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) (CAT#: STEM-MB-0707-WXH)

Introduction

Microvesicles, including exosomes, in the size range 50–200nm are secreted by a wide range of cell types, including those of the immune system, and display a wide range of biological activities. Exosomes in particular have been the focus of much recent research. They are derived from a specialized compartment of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway, in the form of multvesicular bodies, which functionally and phenotypically allows them to be distinguished from vesicles of plasma membrane origin. <br />Exosomes appear to function in a range of intercellular communication processes, principally based on receptor–ligand interactions mediated by polypeptides incorporated into the exosome membrane, but they can also deliver a complex cargo of materials to recipient cells including polypeptides, micro-RNA and mRNA.