Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles that are released by cells in a controlled fashion and mediate a plethora of extra- and intercellular activities. Some key functions of exosomes include cell-cell communication, immune modulation, extracellular matrix turnover, stem cell division/differentiation, neovascularization and cellular waste removal. While much is known about their role in cancer, exosome function in the many specialized tissues of the eye is just beginning to undergo rigorous study. Here we review current knowledge of exosome function in the visual system in the context of larger bodies of data from other fields, in both health and disease. Additionally, we discuss recent advances in the exosome field including use of exosomes as a therapeutic vehicle, exosomes as a source of biomarkers for disease, plus current standards for isolation and validation of exosome populations. Finally, we use this foundational information about exosomes in the eye as a platform to identify areas of opportunity for future research studies.

外泌体是纳米大小的囊泡，由细胞以受控的方式释放，并介导大量的细胞外和细胞间活动。外泌体的一些关键功能包括细胞间通讯、免疫调节、细胞外基质周转、干细胞分裂/分化、新血管形成和细胞废物清除。虽然人们对外泌体在癌症中的作用了解很多，但外泌体在眼睛许多特殊组织中的功能才刚刚开始接受严格的研究。在这里，我们在健康和疾病等其他领域的大量数据的背景下回顾了视觉系统中外泌体功能的当前知识。此外，我们讨论了外泌体领域的最新进展，包括使用外泌体作为治疗载体、外泌体作为疾病生物标志物的来源，以及当前外泌体群体分离和验证的标准。最后，我们利用有关眼睛外泌体的基础信息作为平台来确定未来研究的机会领域。