As we wait: coping with an imperfect nomenclature for extracellular vesicles

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that secreted vesicles play important roles in numerous aspects of biology (e.g. intercellular vesicle traffic, immunity, development, neurobiology and microbiology), contribute to many human diseases (e.g. cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and HIV/AIDS) and have significant biotechnological potential. This expanding interest in extracellular vesicles has also highlighted some vexing problems related to their nomenclature. At the first meeting of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) in Gothenburg, Sweden (April 2012), the authors chaired a session on the issue of vesicle nomenclature. (Published: 15 February 2013) Citation: Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 2013, 2 : 20389 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jev.v2i0.20389