Two Sides of the Same Coin—Mechanistic Insight, Diagnostic Application and Therapeutic Translation of Bacterial and Host-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

Arnold P, Boros FA, Mattner J, Seidel G, Liu C, Hensel I, Van Deun J, Schwendner R, Müller-Deile J, Sopel N, Ramming A, Angeli MR, Rauber S, Vilhena C, Baur A, Wirtz S, Überla K, Reutter HM, Mulzer LM, Hilger A, Zunke F, Xiang W, Fuhrmann G, Günther C (2025)


Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Book Volume: 4

Article Number: e70093

Journal Issue: 11

DOI: 10.1002/jex2.70093

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their pivotal role in both health and disease. Emerging from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, EVs serve as essential mediators of intercellular communication, exceeding the simplistic interactions observed with individual molecules. In this comprehensive review, we will focus on both Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles (BEV) and on Host derived Extracellular Vesicles (HEV) and highlight mechanistic principles, as well as their transformation into diagnostic and therapeutic tools. We will start with a short introduction into the biogenesis and principal properties of BEV and HEV. We will then focus on the composition of BEV and introduce OMICs-based studies that helped to unravel their complex constitution. As both BEV and HEV interact with different epithelial and endothelial barriers and shape their properties, we will highlight mechanistic principles for both EV types. Starting from the intestinal system, where we will look at BEV and how these BEV overcome the intestinal barrier to change distant organs and the patient's immune system. We will then visit other endothelial and epithelial sites of the human body and summarize how HEV shapes these barriers and how HEV can overcome these barriers. We will then turn towards diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. As both BEV and HEV are currently suggested as diagnostic markers and are being investigated as potential therapeutic agents. Lastly, we will discuss current challenges and provide an outlook on the future in the field. This review seeks to raise awareness for both bacterial and host-derived EVs, highlighting that they present two sides of the same coin.

Authors with CRIS profile

Philipp Arnold Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Fanni Annamaria Lazarov-Boros Department of Molecular Neurology Jochen Mattner Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Gerald Seidel Professur für Mikrobiologie Chaofan Liu Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I (Medizin 1) Inga Hensel Department of Medicine 1 – Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology Jan Van Deun Department of Dermatology Raphael Schwendner Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I (Medizin 1) Janina Müller-Deile Department of Medicine 4 – Nephrology and Hypertension Nina Sopel Department of Medicine 4 – Nephrology and Hypertension Andreas Ramming Medizinische Fakultät Mario Raphael Angeli Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Simon Rauber Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Cláudia Vilhena Department Biologie Andreas Baur Department of Dermatology Stefan Wirtz Department of Medicine 1 – Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology Klaus Überla Lehrstuhl für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie Heiko Martin Reutter Professur für Neonatologie Linda-Marie Mulzer Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Alina Hilger Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Friederike Zunke Professur für Translationale Neurowissenschaften Wei Xiang Department of Molecular Neurology Gregor Fuhrmann Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie Claudia Günther Department of Medicine 1 – Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology

How to cite

APA:

Arnold, P., Boros, F.A., Mattner, J., Seidel, G., Liu, C., Hensel, I.,... Günther, C. (2025). Two Sides of the Same Coin—Mechanistic Insight, Diagnostic Application and Therapeutic Translation of Bacterial and Host-Derived Extracellular Vesicles. Journal of Extracellular Biology, 4(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/jex2.70093

MLA:

Arnold, Philipp, et al. "Two Sides of the Same Coin—Mechanistic Insight, Diagnostic Application and Therapeutic Translation of Bacterial and Host-Derived Extracellular Vesicles." Journal of Extracellular Biology 4.11 (2025).

BibTeX: Download