A Novel Mechanism of Regulation for Exosome Secretion in the Diabetic Kidney

Exosomes are nano-sized membrane vesicles generated by inward invagination of the endosomal membrane and released by the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVB) with plasma membrane in various cell types (Fig. 1) (1). Once released, exosomes have diverse activities such as transmitting signals and biomolecules to neighboring or distant recipient cells and regulating the extracellular environment (2). Secreted exosomes have been shown to mediate intercellular communication among kidney cells and may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (3,4). Thus, it is important to understand the role and mechanisms of exosome secretion in the diabetic kidneys.