Fig. 1

Biogenesis, molecular and cellular composition uptake and transfer mechanisms of tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) in tumor microenvironment (TME): 1. the tumor microenvironment (TME) is contains tumor cells that coexist alongside immune cells, fibroblasts, and blood vessels, collectively forming the complex TME. 2. Tumor cells contain tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) that are created from intraluminal vesicles within multivesicular bodies (MVBs). The process begins with the formation of early endosomes through the inward budding of membrane tiny domains from the plasma membrane. These endosomes, which ultimately become MVBs, are dynamic subcellular structures where RNA and cytoplasmic proteins are stored. These MVBs are either incorporated into exosomes by combining with the plasma membrane or they are degraded by lysosomes. Exosomes acquire new components during this transformation, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. 3. Schematic representation of the cellular and molecular composition of TEXs. Specific payloads packed inside TEXs include a variety of proteins, DNAs, metabolites, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Specific membrane proteins that act as biomarkers, such as chaperones, tetraspanins, MHC I and II, tumor-associated antigens, growth factor receptors, and some cytoskeletal proteins, enzymes, are present on the surface of exosomes. 4. The exosomes ultimately release their contents, such as DNA, microRNA and proteins, into recipient cells via different mechanisms including endocytosis/phagocytosis, direct membrane fusion and receptor-ligand interactions. Figure created with BioRender.com