Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small cargo-bearing vesicles released by cells into
the extracellular space. The field of EVs has grown exponentially over the past two
decades; this growth follows the realisation that EVs are not simply a waste disposal
system as had originally been suggested by some, but also a complex cell-to-cell communication
mechanism. Indeed, EVs have been shown to transfer functional cargo between cells
and can influence several biological processes. These small biological particles are
also deregulated in disease. As we approach the 75th anniversary of the first experiments
in which EVs were unknowingly isolated, it seems right to take stock and look back
on how the field started, and has since exploded into its current state. Here we review
the early experiments, summarise key findings that have propelled the field, describe
the growth of an organised EV community, discuss the current state of the field, and
identify key challenges that need to be addressed.
