Fig. 1

Dexosome generation and release within the endosomal system of dendritic cells (DCs). Endocytic vesicles including a variety of extracellular and membrane cargos join together to form early endosomes (EEs). Now EEs can follow two pathways: either returning to the plasma membrane as recycling endosomes or transformation into late endosomes (LEs) or so-called multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Within MVBs, the lipid membrane starts to sprout inwardly concomitant with packing of the ubiquitinated cargos into the nascent intraluminal vesicles (ILVs). MVB membrane budding and cargo sorting of ILVs can be conducted using either ESCRT-dependent or -independent routes. Later, the generated ILVs are targeted for lysosome degradation unless they are rescued by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). MVBs are then directed toward the DC periphery via cytoskeleton proteins and microtubules, and fuse with the plasma membrane using the SNARE protein components. ILVs are now secreted to the extracellular environment as dexosomes