Vesicles for cell crosstalk in bone: composition, function and application

Vesicles, with closed membrane structures containing nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, play a vital role in cell crosstalk. And bone, the important center of cellular information exchange, is where abundant vesicle-based cellular crosstalk occurs. This review explores the composition, functions, and clinical applications of vesicles derived from bone-related cells. Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, and newly identified structures such as migrasomes, exhibit heterogeneity in size, origin, biogenesis, and components. These vesicles facilitate complex cellular interactions, influencing bone formation, resorption, and immune responses. Extracellular vesicles hold significant promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic tools in bone-related diseases. Despite advancements, challenges remain in addressing vesicle heterogeneity, standardizing isolation techniques, and translating vesicle-based therapies into clinical practice. We summarize the latest advances in vesicle research related to bone, aiming to draw the attention of the academic community to newly identified vesicle structures, and may provide insights for studying vesicle-based interactions in other systemic organs.