Extracellular vesicle-mediated bone metabolism in the bone microenvironment

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid membrane-enclosed entities containing specific proteins, RNA, miRNA, and lncRNA. EVs are released by various cells and play a vital role in cell communication by transferring their contents from the host cells to the recipient cells. The role of EVs has been characterized in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. In this context, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory effects of EVs, with a focus on bone metabolism and the bone microenvironment. The roles of EVs in cell communication among bone-related cells, stem cells, tumor cells, and other cells under physiological or pathological conditions are also discussed. In addition, promising applications for EVs in treating bone-related diseases are proposed.