Disruption of cellular communication that regulates normal physiology is often a key factor in the development of disease, including cancer. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of cell-cell communication, modulating local and distant microenvironments and playing an important role influencing tumor progression at both early and late stages. Indeed, EV-mediated communication participates in the initial steps of primary tumor transformation and proliferation as well as the preparation of the premetastatic niche and subsequent metastasis. In this context, the presence of DNA in EVs (EV-DNA) is particularly intriguing, with important biological implications and significant potential as a biomarker in liquid biopsies. In this review we discuss the mechanisms involved in EV-shed DNA and the potential impact in tumor evolution. In addition, it has become apparent in recent years that the secretion of EVs also influences the behavior of the surrounding microenvironment. An important unresolved challenge in oncology is the resistance of tumors to treatment, one of the primary causes of high cancer mortality. The role of EVs in therapy resistance has garnered considerable interest. In the latter part of this review, we also examine the potential involvement of EVs in resistance to therapy.
Nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by all cells to convey cell-to-cell communication. EVs, including exosomes and microvesicles, carry an array of bioactive molecules, such as proteins and RNAs, encapsulated by a membrane lipid bilayer. Epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and various immune cells in the lung contribute to the pool of EVs in the lung microenvironment and carry molecules reflecting their cellular origin. EVs can maintain lung health by regulating immune responses, inducing tissue repair, and maintaining lung homeostasis. They can be detected in lung tissues and biofluids such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood, offering information about disease processes, and can function as disease biomarkers. Here, we discuss the role of EVs in lung homeostasis and pulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung injury. The mechanistic involvement of EVs in pathogenesis and their potential as disease biomarkers are discussed. Finally, the pulmonary field benefits from EVs as clinical therapeutics in severe pulmonary inflammatory disease, as EVs from mesenchymal stem cells attenuate severe respiratory inflammation in multiple clinical trials. Further, EVs can be engineered to carry therapeutic molecules for enhanced and broadened therapeutic opportunities, such as the anti-inflammatory molecule CD24. Finally, we discuss the emerging opportunity of using different types of EVs for treating severe respiratory conditions.

