Exosomes are nanoparticles secreted by all cell types and are a large component of the broader class of nanoparticles termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). Once secreted, exosomes gain access to the interstitial space and ultimately the circulation, where they exert local paracrine or distal systemic effects. Because of this, exosomes are important components of an intercellular and intraorgan communication system capable of carrying biologic signals from one cell type or tissue to another. The exosomal cargo consists of proteins, lipids, miRNAs, and other RNA species, and many of the biologic effects of exosomes have been attributed to miRNAs. Exosomal miRNAs have also been used as disease biomarkers. The field of exosome biology and metabolism is rapidly expanding, with new discoveries and reports appearing on a regular basis, and it is possible that potential therapeutic approaches for the use of exosomes or miRNAs in metabolic diseases will be initiated in the near future.

外泌体是由所有细胞类型分泌的纳米颗粒，是更广泛的称为细胞外囊泡 (EV) 的纳米颗粒类别的重要组成部分。一旦分泌，外泌体就可以进入间质空间并最终进入循环，在那里它们发挥局部旁分泌或远端全身作用。因此，外泌体是细胞间和器官内通讯系统的重要组成部分，能够将生物信号从一种细胞类型或组织传递到另一种细胞类型或组织。外泌体货物由蛋白质、脂质、miRNA 和其他 RNA 种类组成，外泌体的许多生物学效应都归因于 miRNA。外泌体 miRNA 也已被用作疾病生物标志物。外泌体生物学和代谢领域正在迅速扩大，新的发现和报道不断出现，