Exosomes: New Regulators of Reproductive Development

Overview

Journal Mater Today Bio

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2023 Mar 27

PMID 36969697

Authors

Chang Chen

Zhenhao Zhang

Xu Gu

Xihui Sheng

Longfei Xiao

Xiangguo Wang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles (EVs) with a size range between 30 and 150 nm, which can be released by the majority of cell types and circulate in body fluid. They function as a long-distance cell-to-cell communication mechanism that modulates the gene expression profile and fate of target cells. Increasing evidence has indicated exosomes' central role in regulating various complex reproductive processes. However, to our knowledge, a review that focally and vividly describes the role of exosomes in reproductive development is still lacking. This review highlights our knowledge about the contribution of exosomes to early mammalian reproduction, such as gametogenesis, fertilization, early embryonic development, implantation, placentation and pregnancy. The discussion is primarily drawn from literature pertaining to the mammalian lineage with emphasis on the roles of exosomes in human reproduction and laboratory and livestock models.

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