Role of extracellular vesicles in autoimmune diseases

• Extracellular vesicles are mainly represented by exosomes and microparticles.
• Because of their heterogeneity the analysis of extracellular vesicles is complex.
• Extracellular vesicles are a source of self-antigens.
• Extracellular vesicles can contain damage as well as pathogen associated molecular patterns.
• Extracellular vesicles are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) consist of exosomes released upon fusion of multivesicular bodies with the cell plasma membrane and microparticles shed directly from the cell membrane of many cell types. EVs can mediate cell–cell communication and are involved in many processes including inflammation, immune signaling, angiogenesis, stress response, senescence, proliferation, and cell differentiation. Accumulating evidence reveals that EVs act in the establishment, maintenance and modulation of autoimmune processes among several others involved in cancer and cardiovascular complications. EVs could also present biomedical applications, as disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets or agents for drug delivery.