Extracellular Vesicles in Physiological Regulation: From Intercellular Communication to Tissue Homeostasis

Dear Colleagues,

Physiological coordination within and between tissues relies not only on soluble mediators and direct cell–cell contact, but also on the extracellular vesicle-mediated transfer of molecular information. By delivering proteins, lipids, metabolites, and diverse RNA species, extracellular vesicles shape recipient-cell behavior and connect local cellular responses with tissue-level and systemic homeostasis.

Growing evidence demonstrates that extracellular vesicles contribute to tissue maintenance, immune and metabolic regulation, development, reproduction, aging, and adaptation to physiological stress. These functions extend across diverse cell types, tissues, and organ systems, supporting both local intercellular communication and systemic physiological coordination.

Despite rapid progress in this field, the endogenous functions of extracellular vesicles in normal physiology remain less well-understood than their roles in disease, diagnostics, and therapy. Defining how extracellular vesicles are generated, released, distributed, taken up, and integrated into physiological signaling networks is therefore essential for understanding their contribution to tissue and organismal homeostasis.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, entitled “Extracellular Vesicles in Physiological Regulation: From Intercellular Communication to Tissue Homeostasis.”

This Special Issue aims to provide a focused platform for studies investigating extracellular vesicles as endogenous regulators of cellular and tissue physiology. The topic is closely aligned with the scope of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, particularly its emphasis on molecular mechanisms, cellular signaling, intercellular communication, and the molecular regulation of physiological and homeostatic processes.

Original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methodological articles are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Extracellular vesicle biogenesis, secretion, distribution, targeting, and uptake under physiological conditions;
• Cell–cell, tissue–tissue, and inter-organ communication;
• Molecular mechanisms of cargo selection and functional transfer;
• Tissue homeostasis, physiological renewal, adaptive repair, and regeneration;
• Neural, glial, and neurovascular communication;
• Cardiovascular and metabolic regulation;
• Immune homeostasis and immune-cell communication;
• Reproductive biology, pregnancy, development, and aging;
• Regulation of stem cell and progenitor cell niches;
• Physiological adaptation to exercise, nutrition, physiological hypoxia, transient inflammatory signaling, and other adaptive challenges;
• Functional roles of extracellular vesicle-associated proteins, lipids, metabolites, and RNA;
• Omics, imaging, tracking, and analytical approaches for defining extracellular vesicle functions in physiological systems;
• In vivo models and methodological advances for studying extracellular vesicles under physiological conditions.

Contributions integrating molecular mechanisms, physiologically relevant models, advanced imaging, omics technologies, and functional assays are particularly encouraged. By bringing together research from molecular biology, cell biology, and physiology, this Special Issue aims to advance understanding of extracellular vesicles as an important regulatory layer in cellular, tissue, and organismal homeostasis.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Denis Silachev
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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