Extracellular vesicles in renal disease

Extracellular vesicles, exosomes and microvesicles are host cell-derived packages of information that are involved in cell–cell communication. This Review discusses how the release and uptake of these vesicles has important physiological functions in renal processes and can contribute to the development of kidney diseases, and how extracellular vesicles might be targeted and used for the treatment of patients with renal diseases.