fig1
Figure 1. EV biogenesis and secretion. This scheme illustrates the routes involved in the formation and release of distinct EV subtypes: (1) Microvesicles are generated by outward budding and fission of the plasma membrane; (2) Apoptotic bodies are created during apoptosis via plasma membrane blebbing; (3) Exosomes originate from the inward budding of the early endosome membrane, forming ILVs that mature into MVBs. Upon fusion of the MVB with the plasma membrane, ILVs are released into the extracellular space as exosomes. Alternatively, the MVBs can fuse with autophagosomes. Cargo can then be released through secretory autophagy and bypasses lysosomal degradation; (4) Exomeres and supermeres are smaller nanoparticles released through currently undefined mechanisms. Created in BioRender. Ju, J. (2025) https://BioRender.com/ddkj6wp. EV: Extracellular vesicle; ILVs: intraluminal vesicles; MVBs: multivesicular bodies.