Extracellular vesicles – developmental messengers of tissue crosstalk

Extracellular vesicles are membrane particles secreted from cells into all body fluids. They convey signals that induce long-term changes in cellular behavior. During development, EV secretion and the specific loading of signalling factors in EVs contributes to organ development and tissue differentiation. Different biomolecules such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids transmit these signals and the content, size, and membrane composition of EVs are highly dynamic and depend on the cellular source, state, and environmental conditions.Here we review current in vivo studies in different model organisms regarding extracellular vesicles and their physiological role in the formation of cell types, tissues and refined body structures.