The power of imaging to understand extracellular vesicle biology in vivo

Frederik J Verweij, Leonora Balaj, Chantal M Boulanger, David R F Carter, Ewoud B Compeer, Gisela D'Angelo, Samir El Andaloussi, Jacky G Goetz, Julia Christina Gross, Vincent Hyenne, Eva-Maria Krämer-Albers, Charles P Lai, Xavier Loyer, Alex Marki, Stefan Momma, Esther N M Nolte-'t Hoen, D Michiel Pegtel, Hector Peinado, Graça Raposo, Kirsi RillaHidetoshi Tahara, Clotilde Théry, Martin E van Royen, Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke, Ann M Wehman, Kenneth Witwer, Zhiwei Wu, Richard Wubbolts, Guillaume van Niel

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

156 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized lipid bilayer vesicles released by virtually every cell type. EVs have diverse biological activities, ranging from roles in development and homeostasis to cancer progression, which has spurred the development of EVs as disease biomarkers and drug nanovehicles. Owing to the small size of EVs, however, most studies have relied on isolation and biochemical analysis of bulk EVs separated from biofluids. Although informative, these approaches do not capture the dynamics of EV release, biodistribution, and other contributions to pathophysiology. Recent advances in live and high-resolution microscopy techniques, combined with innovative EV labeling strategies and reporter systems, provide new tools to study EVs in vivo in their physiological environment and at the single-vesicle level. Here we critically review the latest advances and challenges in EV imaging, and identify urgent, outstanding questions in our quest to unravel EV biology and therapeutic applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1013-1026
Number of pages14
JournalNature methods
Volume18
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021

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