Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediated intracellular communication plays an imperative role in the proper completion of different physiological events. Most of the bio-fluids are enriched with several subpopulations of EVs including exosomes and microvesicles (MVs), with the capacity of transferring different functional molecules (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids) to target cells. Recipient cells upon receiving the signal molecules undergo different changes that positively affect the structural and functional integrity of the cells. This article was aimed to highlight the role of EVs secreted by gametes, the female reproductive tract, and the growing conceptus in the successful completion of different reproductive events related to gestation. EVs associated with the reproductive system are actively involved in the regulation of different physiological events including gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo and fetal development. In the reproductive system, EVs mediated intracellular communication is not unidirectional but is rather regulated through crosstalk between the reproductive tract and the growing conceptus. These vesicles are secreted from the ovary, oviductal epithelium, endometrium, developing embryo, and the placenta. The cargo inside these vesicles exerts pleiotropic effects on both maternal and embryonic environments. A better understanding of the EVs-mediated crosstalk will be helpful in the development of useful tools serving both the diagnostic as well as therapeutic needs related to female fertility.
Highlights
Intercellular communication is considered imperative for the regulation and accomplishment of different physiological events including cellular proliferation and differentiation, gametogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development [1]
This review highlights the biological roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in different events of female reproductive physiology associated with the pregnancy
There is growing evidence in the literature that the functional molecules carried by the EVs can modulate different reproductive events such as gametes maturation, fertilization, blockage of polyspermy, development, and implantation of the embryo, fetal development, and parturition
Summary
Intercellular communication is considered imperative for the regulation and accomplishment of different physiological events including cellular proliferation and differentiation, gametogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development [1]. The success of pregnancy greatly depends on gametogenesis, fertilization, and an adequate uterine environment for embryonic development [2] These highly complex processes greatly rely on the crosstalk between the gametes and the different segments of the reproductive tract. The concentration of EVs and their cargo composition largely depend on physiological and environmental conditions [9] The contents of these vesicles can affect different physiological and pathological conditions through epigenetic and phenotypic modifications of both donor and target cells [10, 11]. They actively participate in different biological activities such as immunomodulation, transportation, and propagation of infectious cargo including prions and retroviruses [12, 13], reproduction, candidate biomarkers of health and disease, and potential targets for therapeutics [14]
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