PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Federico Colombo
AU  - Erienne Grace Norton
AU  - Emanuele Cocucci
TI  - Extracellular Vesicle exchange is favored by cell proximity
AID  - 10.1101/2022.05.10.491399
DP  - 2022 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2022.05.10.491399
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/05/11/2022.05.10.491399.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/05/11/2022.05.10.491399.full
AB  - Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are biological nanovectors that retain information of the cell of origin and convey signals to recipient cells. Therefore, EVs are ideal platforms for the development of diagnostic tools and of bio-inspired drug delivery technologies. However, the dynamics of EV distribution in physiological conditions are still underexplored. Using an elegant series of experiments, including quantitative assays to define EV transfer and five dimension live cell imaging, we observe the release and internalization of EVs in real time and we demonstrate that EVs are mainly exchanged at the cell-cell interface. These observations prompt paradigm shifting consequences: first, EVs are mostly short-range intercellular vectors that influence adjacent cells; second, our data explain why increases in the internal pressure and permeability of the parenchyma, two hallmarks of inflammation and cancer, can facilitate EV escape from the damaged tissue. In conclusion, we provide experimental evidence supporting why EVs have great potential for the implementation of specific and sensitive liquid biopsy tests.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.