Extracellular Vesicles as Targeted Communicators in Complementary Medical Treatments.

The supposed meridians of traditional oriental medicine have been a cause of conflict between traditional and modern medical science. A possible resolution has been proposed: That extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, may be the transmitters of traditional therapies such as massage and acupuncture. This article develops that idea by proposing that the pathways between surface and deep structures may be laid down during the embryonic migration of cells from one region of the developing body to distant regions. This hypothesis depends on the proven targeting of vesicular communication via cell surface binding molecules and their complementary binding sites on target cells. The hypothesis is therefore experimentally testable. The article also draws attention to a strong analogy with Charles Darwin's theory of pangenesis for particulate communication between the soma and germline.