Microparticles: A New Perspective in Central Nervous System Disorders

Figure 1

Possible mechanisms responsible for microparticle blebbing and release. Under normal conditions, the plasma membrane is well-structured and characterized by asymmetric lipid distribution. During MP formation, lipid asymmetry is lost, and aminophospholipids are redistributed to the outer leaflet. Cytoskeletal rearrangement induced by caspase 2/Rho kinase, calpain, or transglutaminase 2 results in outward blebbing of the plasma membrane with subsequent MP formation and release. Adapted from Burger et al. [31]; Distler et al. [55].