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. 2024 Jun:3:100043.
doi: 10.1016/j.vesic.2024.100043. Epub 2024 May 17.

Host innate immune systems gather intel on invading microbes via pathogen-derived extracellular vesicles

Geneva N Kwaku  1 , Rebecca A Ward  1 , Jatin M Vyas  1   2   3 , Hannah Brown Harding  1   2   3
Affiliations

Host innate immune systems gather intel on invading microbes via pathogen-derived extracellular vesicles

Geneva N Kwaku et al. Extracell Vesicle. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound vesicles released into the extracellular milieu from various cell types including host cells and pathogens that infect them. As carriers of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, metabolites, and virulence factors, EVs act as delivery vehicles for intercellular communication and quorum sensing. Innate immune cells have the capacity to intercept, internalize, and interpret 'messages' contained within these EVs. This review categorizes the ability of EVs secreted by bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens to trigger both pro- and anti-inflammatory innate immune responses in the host. Understanding molecular pathways and inflammatory responses activated in innate immune cells upon pathogen-derived EV stimulation is critical to gain insight into potential therapeutics and combat these infectious diseases.

Keywords: Extracellular vesicles; Inflammatory pathways; Innate immunity; Therapeutics.

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