Fig. 1

Schematic of the process of exosome and microvesicle secretion. Exosomes are endosomally derived, and bud inside an intermediate structure known as a multi-vesicular element (MVE). The MVE subsequently fuses with the plasma membrane of the cell, releasing the contents. Microvesicles bud directly from the plasma membrane surface, preceded by a rearrangement of the membrane lipid bilayer and the local cytoskeleton