The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Regulation of Autophagy

The interest of the scientific community in extracellular vesicles (EVs) is growing every year. EVs are lipid vesicles containing hundreds of proteins and nucleic acids. EVs are secreted by almost all cells in the body and are able to circulate in the bloodstream for long periods of time. Also, one of the distinctive features of EVs is their ability to penetrate blood–tissue barriers. Not surprisingly, EVs have attracted attention primarily because they can potentially be used for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. However, EVs also have a role in the normal functioning of the body. In addition to the already known examples of EV-mediated intercellular communication, there are recent examples of EVs regulating autophagy, at least in nerve cells. Depending on the type of recipient cell, EVs can both activate and inhibit autophagy. Presumably, the regulation of autophagy in the brain involves intercellular signaling involving EVs.