Exosome–cell surface uptake machinery (ECSUM)

The exosome–cell surface uptake machinery refers to the collective group of proteins and lipids on the recipient cell membrane responsible for the binding and internalisation of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs). This machinery is not a single molecule but a complex system involving heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), tetraspanins (such as CD81 and CD63), integrins, and various endocytic proteins like clathrin and dynamin (McKelvey et al., 2015, J Circ Biomark). These components facilitate the transfer of bioactive cargo, including proteins, lipids, and RNAs, which can alter the phenotype of the recipient cell. In pathological contexts, such as cancer, this machinery is often hijacked to promote pre-metastatic niche formation, drug resistance, and immune evasion (Costa-Silva et al., 2015, Nature). Therapeutic strategies targeting this machinery aim to block the uptake of pathogenic exosomes using small molecule inhibitors of endocytosis or competitive binders like heparin to prevent disease progression (Mulcahy et al., 2014, J Extracell Vesicles).

Other names

Exosome internalisation pathwayExtracellular vesicle uptake machineryEV endocytic machineryExosome-cell surface interaction complex

Inhibition of heparan sulfate proteoglycan binding, inhibition of dynamin-dependent endocytosis, blockade of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, or inhibition of macropinocytosis and actin polymerization.