***Extracellular Vesicle group is affiliated to both the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program (Faculty of Bio- and Environmental Sciences) and the CURED (Faculty of Pharmacy). The EV group forms a part of the University of Helsinki EV Core (http://www.esitteemme.fi/EV_Core/WebView/ ). For more information, see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/extracellular-vesicles/research

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane bi-layer surrounded vesicles released by cells and bacteria, which may contain proteins, nucleic acids, lipids or carbohydrates as an effector cargo. As a population, EVs are heterogeneous and include vesicle types such as exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies.

Since EVs can be detected in all body fluids, their use in diagnostics and as therapeutic vehicles is intensively investigated and the EV-mediated intercellular cross-talk is considered to be a fundamental phenomenon in cell biology. For a comprehensive review, please read Yáñez-Mó & Siljander et al JEV 2015

http://www.journalofextracellularvesicles.net/index.php/jev/article/view/27066