Rui VitorinoRita FerreiraSofia GuedesFrancisco AmadoVisith ThongboonkerdLAQV-REQUIMTEUniversidade de AveiroFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP)Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University2022-08-042022-08-042021-04-01Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. Vol.78, No.7 (2021), 3265-3283142090711420682X2-s2.0-85099855239https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/76236Exosomes are involved in a wide variety of biochemical processes in human body homeostasis. Exosomes also provide important information regarding communications among several organ systems. Additionally, they can serve as molecular vehicles to deliver drugs. Therefore, exosomes have received wide attention in current biomedical research for unraveling pathogenic mechanisms of diseases, searching for novel biomarkers, and discovering new drugs. This paper reviews and discusses the significance of urinary exosomes for a better understanding of human disease pathophysiology and their potential use as therapeutic targets. Isolation methods of exosomes and the latest technological advances are also discussed. Furthermore, novel urinary exosomal biomarkers are highlighted with special emphasis on their clinical applicability (particularly sensitivity, specificity, reliability, and other aspects). Finally, future trends for this field are analyzed and our perspectives are provided.Mahidol UniversityBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyNeurosciencePharmacology, Toxicology and PharmaceuticsReviewSCOPUS10.1007/s00018-020-03739-w