fig1

Figure 1. Biogenesis and release of exosomes. Exosome formation begins with plasma membrane invagination during endocytosis, leading to the formation of early endosomes. Early endosomes mature into late endosomes, whose limiting membranes invaginate to generate intraluminal vesicles (ILVs), ultimately forming multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Fusion of MVBs with the plasma membrane releases ILVs into the extracellular space as exosomes. Intracellular organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, participate in the synthesis, sorting, and trafficking of exosome-associated components. ER: Endoplasmic reticulum; ILV: intraluminal vesicle; MVB: multivesicular body.