Migrasomes as intercellular messengers: potential in the pathological mechanism, diagnosis and treatment of clinical diseases

Abstract

Migrasomes are newly identified organelles that were first discovered in 2015. Since then, their biological structure, formation process, and physiological functions have been gradually elucidated. Research in recent years has expanded our understanding of these aspects, highlighting their significance in various physiological and pathological processes. Migrasomes have been found to play crucial roles in normal physiological functions, including embryonic development, vascular homeostasis, material transport, and mitochondrial quality control. Additionally, emerging evidence suggests their involvement in various diseases; however, clinical research on their roles remains limited. Current studies indicate that migrasomes may contribute to disease pathogenesis and hold potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This review consolidates existing clinical research on migrasomes, focusing on their role in disease mechanisms and their use in medical applications. By examining their biological structure and function, this review aims to generate insights that encourage further research, ultimately contributing to advancements in disease prevention and treatment.

Keywords: Cell communication; Disease; Migrasome; Organelles; Pathology; Treatment.

Fig. 1

Structural characteristics of migrasomes. A Migrasomes from L929 cells transfected with Tspan4-mCherry were visualized using confocal microscopy. Scale bar, 10 mm. B Transmission electron microscopy image of pomegranate-like structures, which were later named migrasomes. Scale bar, 500 nm. © 2021 The Authors. The FEBS Journal was published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies

Fig. 2

The process of migrasome biogenesis encompasses the following five steps: I Nucleation. The aggregation of SMS2 determines migrasome formation sites and promotes the conversion of ceramide to sphingomyelin, thereby driving the growth of migrasomes. II Maturation. PIP5K1A catalyzes the generation of PI(4,5)P2. Subsequently, PI(4,5)P2 binds to Rab35 and recruits integrins, marking the maturity of migrasomes. III Expansion. TSPAN4 is enriched in the migrasome membrane and combines with cholesterol and other proteins to form tetraspanin-enriched microdomains that expand within migrasomes. IV Vesicle transport. Rab10 and CAV1 jointly participate in vesicle transport within migrasomes. During transport, LRRK2 promotes the phosphorylation of Rab10. Phosphorylated Rab10 binds to RILPL2, which then links to myosin V, and these three proteins work synergistically. V Transport and release of substances. Myosin drives vesicles labeled with different Rabs into the migrasomes. VAMP2 forms a complex with SNAP23 to promote the fusion of intraluminal vesicles with the migrasome membrane, ultimately releasing substances within migrasomes

Fig. 3

Biological functions of migrasomes. Migrasomes play important roles in five aspects: embryonic development, angiogenesis promotion, mitochondrial quality control, material transfer, and hemostasis maintenance

Fig. 4

Relationship between migrasomes and clinical disease. This review summarizes the clinical diseases associated with migrasomes. Diseases are classified as tumors or nontumors; nontumor diseases are divided into infectious and noninfectious; noninfectious diseases are classified into the cardiology, urology, obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, and neurology categories. Regenerative medicine research was also considered