EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION, DISEASE PROPAGATION, AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Annotatsiya

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, are membrane-bound particles released by essentially all cell types that carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids capable of modifying the function of recipient cells. Within the central nervous system, EVs derived from neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia participate in normal intercellular communication, including metabolic support of axons, synaptic modulation, and myelin maintenance. Under pathological conditions, however, EVs can serve as vehicles for the cell-to-cell propagation of misfolded proteins, including amyloid-beta, tau, and alpha-synuclein, contributing to the spread of pathology in neurodegenerative disease. EVs also cross the blood-brain barrier and appear in cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood, positioning them as promising biomarkers and as engineered vehicles for targeted drug delivery to the brain. This review summarizes the biogenesis and physiological roles of EVs in the nervous system, their role in the propagation of neurodegenerative pathology, their relevance to major neurological disorders, and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic applications.