Fig. 1
From: Mesenchymal stem cells and extracellular vesicles in therapy against kidney diseases
The function of MSCs/MSC-EVs. MSCs can be specifically located in the injured zones of the kidney. Then, MSCs act on peripheral cells by secreting trophic factors such as growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines, or deliver subcellular structures and even mitochondria by forming tunnelling nanotubes, secreting EVs, and fusing with cells. EVs enter endosomes to form MVBs by way of budding, then MVBs are combined with cytomembranes to release EVs. EVs can be divided into exosomes, MVs, and apoptotic bodies. EVs, specially Exos, contain DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipid. MSCs, mesenchymal stem cells; EVs, extracellular vesicles; MVBs, multivesicular bodies; MVs, microvesicles