Exosomes are tiny vesicles (diameter 30-150 nm) secreted by cells in culture and found in all body fluids. These vesicles, loaded with unique RNA and protein cargos, have many biological functions, of which only a small fraction is currently understood-for example, they participate in cell-to-cell communication and signaling within the human body. The spectrum of current scientific interest in exosomes is wide and ranges from understanding their functions and pathways to using them in diagnostics, as biomarkers, and in the development of therapeutics. Here we provide an overview of different strategies for isolation of exosomes from cell-culture media and body fluids.
© 2015 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.