REVIEW article
Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Cellular Endocrinology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1626796
ApoBDs: A Paradigm Shift from Cellular Debris to Therapeutic Vehicles
Provisionally accepted
Zixuan Xiong1
Fen Xiao2
Yuanyuan Sun1
Hankun Su1
Di Liu1
Boya Tang1
Wenyan Jian1
Tianli Yang1
Jing Zhao1
Yanping Li1
Hui Li1*- 1Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- 2The Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan province, China
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Apoptosis, a genetically programmed cell death process, is essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Apoptotic vesicles (ApoVs), membrane-bound vesicles generated during apoptosis and once considered mere cellular debris, can be classified into apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs), microvesicles, and apoptotic extracellular vesicles (ApoEVs) based on their grain size. These vesicles, packed with bioactive molecules, not only drive tumor growth and metastasis, but also contribute to tissue and organ repair. This review focus on the origins, formation mechanisms, and dual functions of ApoBDs across various diseases, highlighting their paradoxical nature as both disease promoters and therapeutic allies. It further explores the application prospects and clinical practice of ApoBDs in cancer treatment, immune modulation, and tissue regeneration. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive perspective on the transformative potential of ApoBDs in modern medicine, while outlining current challenges and future directions for ongoing research and clinical application.
Keywords: Apoptotic bodies, apoptotic vesicles, Tissue Regeneration, Therapeutics, diagnosis
Received: 11 May 2025; Accepted: 04 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xiong, Xiao, Sun, Su, Liu, Tang, Jian, Yang, Zhao, Li and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hui Li, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.