Exosomes are cell mail
For my first science-related post, I want to introduce you to exosomes. Exosomes are small (~30-100 nanometers) spheres that are produced by cells. Many different kinds of cells can produce them, and they can do all kinds of things, including carrying proteins, DNA, or RNA to neighboring or distant cells. Think of them basically as cell mail, carrying important messages between cells. The cargo of the exosome differs depending on what kind of cell the exosome came from, and what kind of cell its target is. For example, exosomes from cancer cells can contain enzymes that break down the surrounding environment and make it easier for cancers to spread. (1) While exosomes from other cell types carry signals that stoke the immune system in response to diseases like sepsis (2). Now that we have the understanding that cells use exosomes to affect the behavior of other cells, researchers are trying to utilize the exosome system to affect cell behavior. Because exosomes are made by our cells ...