Abstract
Astrocytes are an abundant and dynamic glial cell exclusive to the central nervous system (CNS). In the context of injury, inflammation, and/or diseases of the nervous system, astrocyte responses, termed reactive astrogliosis, are a recognized pathological feature across a range of conditions and diseases. However, the impact of reactive astrogliosis is not uniform and varies by context and duration (time). In recent years, extracellular communication between glial cells via extracellular vesicles (EVs) has garnered interest as a process connected with reactive astrogliosis. In this review, we relate recent findings on astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEVs) with a focus on factors that can influence the effects of ADEVs and identified age related changes in the function of ADEVs. Additionally, we will discuss the current limitations of existing experimental approaches and identify questions that highlight areas for growth in this field, which will continue to enhance our understanding of ADEVs in age-associated processes.
Highlights
Astrocytes are a prominent and plentiful glial population found in the central nervous system (CNS)
We have provided a synopsis on aspects of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEVs) as a fundamental component of astrocyte biology
Questions of; 'why do mutated proteins always seem to find their way into Extracellular vesicles (EVs)?' or 'can EVs from one cell target a specific cell type or subtype of another cell?', and 'how?' While technological advancements have allowed for more precise measurements and analyses of EVs, there is still a pressing need for further improvements
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were first described as “platelet dust” over 50 years ago [16]. There are three main types of EVs classically described in literature, as defined by their mechanism of release and size: exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies [23]. Part of this process involves the invagination and pinching off of the endosome membrane which generates intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) [24] Their contents are diverse and vary based on cell type as well as physiological state. Microvesicles and exosomes are similar in form and function, yet they differ in subtle ways [28] While both transport nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids through the extracellular space, microvesicles are generally larger than exosomes, with diameters ranging between 100 nm – 1 μm [20]. The mechanism(s) that underlie the cellular targeting of EVs are presently poorly understood [47]
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