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REVIEW ARTICLE: The Role of Placental Exosomes in Reproduction
Author(s) -
MinchevaNilsson Lucia,
Baranov Vladimir
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00822.x
Subject(s) - microvesicles , microbiology and biotechnology , syncytiotrophoblast , biology , placenta , cell , cell signaling , immune system , immunology , pregnancy , microrna , fetus , signal transduction , genetics , gene
Citation Mincheva‐Nilsson L, Baranov V. The Role of Placental Exosomes in Reproduction. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Cell communication comprises cell–cell contact, soluble mediators and intercellular nanotubes. There is, however, another cell–cell communication by released membrane‐bound microvesicles that convey cell–cell contact ‘by proxy’ transporting signals/packages of information from donor to recipient cells locally and/or at a distance. The nanosized exosomes comprise a specialized type of microvesicles generated within multivesicular bodies (MVB) and released upon MVB fusion with the plasma membrane. Exosomes are produced by a variety of immune, epithelial and tumor cells. Upon contact, exosomes transfer molecules that can render new properties and/or reprogram their recipient cells. Recently, it was discovered that the syncytiotrophoblast constitutively and throughout the pregnancy secretes exosomes. The placenta‐derived exosomes are immunosuppressive and carry proteins and RNA molecules that in a redundant way influence a number of mechanisms and promote the fetal allograft survival. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the nature of placenta‐derived exosomes and discuss their role in pregnancy.