Intercellular communication via delivery of functional proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids

Intercellular communication via delivery of functional proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids refers to the transfer of biologically active molecules between cells through mechanisms such as extracellular vesicles—including exosomes—and other carrier particles. These carriers transport their molecular cargo to both nearby and distant cells, mediating significant changes in cellular function. The content delivered can include proteins that integrate into recipient cell metabolic pathways or microRNAs that regulate gene expression. This form of non-classical cell-to-cell signaling plays crucial roles in physiological regulation—including metabolism adaptation—and is implicated in diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and immune pathologies. The composition of these carriers is dynamic and regulated by factors like hormones; for example, insulin alters the pattern of microRNAs secreted into extracellular vesicles under high-glucose conditions. While intensely studied for therapeutic applications—such as targeted drug delivery—the term does not refer to a discrete molecular entity but rather describes a complex biological phenomenon involving multiple molecules and pathways[1][2][3].

Other names

Extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular communicationExosome-mediated cargo transferNon-classical intercellular communicationVesicle-based signaling