Extracellular vesicles from the dead: the final message

Communication between dying and neighbouring cells is vital to ensure appropriate processes such as tissue repair or inflammation are initiated in response to cell death. As a mechanism to aid intercellular communication, cells undergoing apoptosis can release membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) called apoptotic-cell-derived EVs (ApoEVs) that can influence downstream processes through biomolecules within or on ApoEVs. ApoEVs are broadly categorised based on size as either large ApoEVs known as apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs) or small ApoEVs (s-ApoEVs). Notably, the mechanisms of ApoBD and s-ApoEV formation are different, and the functions of these two ApoEV subsets are distinct. This Review focuses on the biogenesis and functional properties of both ApoBDs and s-ApoEVs, particularly in the context of cell clearance, cell signalling and disease progression.