Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways

Extracellular vesicles (microvesicles), such as exosomes and shed microvesicles, contain a variety of molecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microvesicles appear mostly to originate from multivesicular bodies or to bud from the plasma membrane. Here, we review the convergence of mi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Wurdinger, NaTosha N. Gatson, Leonora Balaj, Balveen Kaur, Xandra O. Breakefield, D. Michiel Pegtel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Advances in Virology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767694
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849410801348116480
author Thomas Wurdinger
NaTosha N. Gatson
Leonora Balaj
Balveen Kaur
Xandra O. Breakefield
D. Michiel Pegtel
author_facet Thomas Wurdinger
NaTosha N. Gatson
Leonora Balaj
Balveen Kaur
Xandra O. Breakefield
D. Michiel Pegtel
author_sort Thomas Wurdinger
collection DOAJ
description Extracellular vesicles (microvesicles), such as exosomes and shed microvesicles, contain a variety of molecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microvesicles appear mostly to originate from multivesicular bodies or to bud from the plasma membrane. Here, we review the convergence of microvesicle biogenesis and aspects of viral assembly and release pathways. Herpesviruses and retroviruses, amongst others, recruit several elements from the microvesicle biogenesis pathways for functional virus release. In addition, noninfectious pleiotropic virus-like vesicles can be released, containing viral and cellular components. We highlight the heterogeneity of microvesicle function during viral infection, addressing microvesicles that can either block or enhance infection, or cause immune dysregulation through bystander action in the immune system. Finally, endogenous retrovirus and retrotransposon elements deposited in our genomes millions of years ago can be released from cells within microvesicles, suggestive of a viral origin of the microvesicle system or perhaps of an evolutionary conserved system of virus-vesicle codependence. More research is needed to further elucidate the complex function of the various microvesicles produced during viral infection, possibly revealing new therapeutic intervention strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-58e1216e5160453dabc23fd2eeb9b79c
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8639
1687-8647
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advances in Virology
spelling doaj-art-58e1216e5160453dabc23fd2eeb9b79c2025-08-20T03:34:58ZengWileyAdvances in Virology1687-86391687-86472012-01-01201210.1155/2012/767694767694Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral PathwaysThomas Wurdinger0NaTosha N. Gatson1Leonora Balaj2Balveen Kaur3Xandra O. Breakefield4D. Michiel Pegtel5Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USADardinger Laboratory for Neuro-oncology and Neurosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USADardinger Laboratory for Neuro-oncology and Neurosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USADepartment of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The NetherlandsExtracellular vesicles (microvesicles), such as exosomes and shed microvesicles, contain a variety of molecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microvesicles appear mostly to originate from multivesicular bodies or to bud from the plasma membrane. Here, we review the convergence of microvesicle biogenesis and aspects of viral assembly and release pathways. Herpesviruses and retroviruses, amongst others, recruit several elements from the microvesicle biogenesis pathways for functional virus release. In addition, noninfectious pleiotropic virus-like vesicles can be released, containing viral and cellular components. We highlight the heterogeneity of microvesicle function during viral infection, addressing microvesicles that can either block or enhance infection, or cause immune dysregulation through bystander action in the immune system. Finally, endogenous retrovirus and retrotransposon elements deposited in our genomes millions of years ago can be released from cells within microvesicles, suggestive of a viral origin of the microvesicle system or perhaps of an evolutionary conserved system of virus-vesicle codependence. More research is needed to further elucidate the complex function of the various microvesicles produced during viral infection, possibly revealing new therapeutic intervention strategies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767694
spellingShingle Thomas Wurdinger
NaTosha N. Gatson
Leonora Balaj
Balveen Kaur
Xandra O. Breakefield
D. Michiel Pegtel
Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
Advances in Virology
title Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
title_full Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
title_fullStr Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
title_full_unstemmed Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
title_short Extracellular Vesicles and Their Convergence with Viral Pathways
title_sort extracellular vesicles and their convergence with viral pathways
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/767694
work_keys_str_mv AT thomaswurdinger extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways
AT natoshangatson extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways
AT leonorabalaj extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways
AT balveenkaur extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways
AT xandraobreakefield extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways
AT dmichielpegtel extracellularvesiclesandtheirconvergencewithviralpathways