In recent years, extracellular vesicles are found as an important medium for intercellular signal communication in prokaryotic and higher eukaryotic cells for regulating a variety of biological processes.Extracellular vesi-cles include exosomes,microvesicles and apoptotic bodies,and can be released into extracellular media by almost all types of cells in vivo and in vitro.Extracellular vesicles are released under physiological and pathological conditions, including liver diseases,and have a wide range of effects on the target cells.This review summarizes the progress in understanding the role of extracellular vesicles in chronic liver diseases.Specifically, how extracellular vesicles regulate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is discussed in detail highlighting extracellular vesicles as a promising therapeutic target for chronic liver diseases.
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