Particle Phagocytosis Amplifies Secretion of Small Extracellular Vesicles in Macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are critical mediators of immune communication and tissue homeostasis, yet the exogenous factors that regulate their release and composition remain poorly defined. Here, we identify phagocytosis of particulate materials as a direct and general driver of macrophage small EV production through a lysosome-linked mechanism. Across primary and engineered murine and human macrophage cultures, phagocytic uptake robustly increased small EV secretion, an effect that was recapitulated in vivo following orotracheal instillation that resulted in elevated small EV abundance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This phagocytosis-driven small EV amplification depended on particle size (hydrodynamic diameter >200 nm) and residence time within the phagolys

SUBMITTER: Trautmann-Rodriguez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12889446 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature