TABLE 1

Overview of the main characteristics of different types of eukaryotic cell-derived vesicles

DiameterDensityMorphology (TEM)Cellular OriginOriginComposition
nmg/ml
Exosomes50–100a–d1.13–1.19a,cCup-shapeda–c,eMost cell typesPlasma membrane endosomesf–jBiochemical composition known, but most proteins and lipids not unique for exosomesa,b,e,k–n
Microvesicles20–1000b,n–qUnknownCup-shapedMost cell typesPlasma membraneq–tInsufficiently known
Membrane particles50–80, 600u1.032–1.068uCup-shapeduEpithelial cells onlyuPlasma membraneuCD133u
Apoptotic vesicles1000–5000m,n,v,w1.16–1.28nHeterogeneouswAll cell typesPlasma membrane endoplasmic reticulumxHistones, DNAn,v–y

  • ↵a Escola et al., 1998.

  • ↵b Heijnen et al., 1999.

  • ↵c Raposo et al., 1996.

  • ↵d Trams et al., 1981.

  • ↵e André et al., 2004.

  • ↵f Booth et al., 2006.

  • ↵g Fang et al., 2007.

  • ↵h Harding et al., 1983.

  • ↵i Lenassi et al., 2010.

  • ↵j Pan et al., 1985.

  • ↵k Beyer and Pisetsky, 2010.

  • ↵l Taylor and Gerçel-Taylor, 2005.

  • ↵m Théry et al., 2009.

  • ↵n Turiák et al., 2011.

  • ↵o Dragovic et al., 2011.

  • ↵p György et al., 2011a.

  • ↵q Wolf, 1967.

  • ↵r Allan and Raval, 1983.

  • ↵s Crawford, 1971.

  • ↵t George et al., 1976, 1982.

  • ↵u Marzesco et al., 2005.

  • ↵v Hristov et al., 2004.

  • ↵w Kerr et al., 1972.

  • ↵x Bilyy et al., 2012.

  • ↵y Holmgren et al., 1999.