Special Feature: Roles of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Diseases

Almost all cells on the earth release extracellular vesicles, nano-sized enclosed lipid bilayered structures, into the extracellular environment. Extracellular vesicles contain diverse bioactive components such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, as well as metabolites, and represent a subset of cellular components. These vesicles are present in biological fluids, and have been proposed to play diverse pathophysiological functions, such as immune modulation, angiogenesis, tissue repair, and tumor metastasis. Extracellular vesicles are currently suggested as next-generation targets for diagnostics and therapeutics. However, systematic and comprehensive studies based on the emergent properties of these vesicles, not solely based on reductionist approaches, are essential for understanding the complexity of extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular and inter-kingdom communication. In this Special Issue of Experimental & Molecular Medicine, we present review articles providing insights into current knowledge regarding the roles of extracellular vesicles in human diseases.