外泌体是一种产生于细胞内并分泌到胞外的膜性囊泡小体，人体中几乎所有类型的细胞均能产生和分泌外泌体。外泌体内可携带多种蛋白信号分子、mRNA、miRNA、lncRNA及其降解片段。这些成分因为有外泌体脂质膜的保护而具有充分的生物学活性，参与细胞迁移、凋亡、增殖的过程，从而有效发挥对受体细胞的调节作用。外泌体作为细胞与细胞间信号传递的重要信息载体，参与多种肾脏疾病的发生、发展。该文针对外泌体的生物学特性及其在急性肾损伤中的作用进行简要综述。

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with plasma membrane. They are produced intracellularly and then secreted out of the cells. Almost all types of cells in human bodies can produce and excrete exosomes. Exosomes carry a variety of signal proteins, mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA and their degradation fragments. Due to the protection of lipid membrane, these components have biological activity and get involved in the process of cell migration, apoptosis and proliferation, and can modulate the function of the recipient cells. As an important cell-cell signal carrier, exosomes are involved in the development of many kidney diseases. This article reviewed the biological characteristics of exosomes and their roles in acute kidney injury.