MACSPlex Analysis of Plasma Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) or exosomes are small membrane vesicles of endocytic origin that are released by many cell types. Depending on the originating cell, exosomes are loaded with a specific set of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. EVs are involved in various biological processes, including immune surveillance, blood coagulation, neuronal communication, stem cell maintenance, and tissue repair. Their impact on tumor progression, neurodegeneration, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases is under investigation. The surface proteins on EVs can affect the cellular uptake and the EV load can impact the physiology of target cells. Due to their small size, it has been difficult to analyze EVs by standard flow cytometry, posing a technical limitation to scientific advancement in this field.