Glial phenotype induction of neural stem progenitor cells using astrocyte-derived exosomes
Exosomes, small vescicles with a lipid bilayer, are released from many cell types and are part of the cell secretrome that can play a role in intercellular communication. They originate from cytoplasmic multivescicular bodies, fuse with the plasma membrane and release their content of lipids, proteins and RNAs in the extracellular space or in target cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that exosomes contribute to many aspects of healthy and pathological cells, and they may influence the homeostasis of target cells.