Paracrine Signaling by Extracellular Vesicles via Osteoblasts

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), spherical bilayered proteolipids, behave as paracrine effectors since they are released from cells to deliver signals to other cells. They control a diverse range of biological processes by transferring proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells and are secreted by a wide spectrum of cell types and are found in various biological fluids. EVs are formed at the plasma membrane or in endosomes and are heterogeneous in size and composition. Increasing understanding of the working mechanisms is promising for therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities. In this review, we will focus on the recent developments in this emerging field with special emphasis on the role of EVs in the bone microenvironment, with a central role for the osteoblasts in the communication with a diversity of cells, including bone metastases.