The human gut microbiome encompasses inter alia, the myriad bacterial species that create the optimal host-microorganism balance essential for normal metabolic and immune function. Various lines of evidence suggest that dysregulation of the microbiota-host interaction is linked to pathologies such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Extracellular vesicles (EVs), found in virtually all body fluids and produced by both eukaryotic cells and bacteria are involved in cell-cell communication and crosstalk mechanisms, such as the immune response, barrier function and intestinal flora. This review highlights advancements in knowledge of the functional role that EVs may have in IBD and CRC, and discusses the possible use of EVs derived from intestinal microbiota in therapeutic strategies for treating these conditions.

Department of Health Promotion Mother and Child Care Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties Palermo Italy

Department of Surgery Oncologicical and Stomatological Sciences University Hospital Policlinico Paolo Giaccone of Palermo Palermo Italy

Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics University Hospital Policlinico Paolo Giaccone of Palermo Palermo Italy

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