Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in various disease mechanisms, particularly in neuroinflammatory and cancer contexts. For instance, Gu et al. demonstrated that leucocyte-derived EVs can be engineered to incorporate retrovirus-like capsids, enhancing the packaging and systemic delivery of mRNA into neurons across the blood-brain barrier, which is particularly significant for treating neurological disorders (ref: Gu doi.org/10.1038/s41551-023-01150-x/). In the context of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), Jiang et al. explored how astrocyte-derived EVs (ADEVs) may alleviate symptoms in a mouse model, highlighting their potential therapeutic role in autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system (ref: Jiang doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adg5116/). Furthermore, Gao et al. found that EVs from M1 macrophages can induce ferroptosis in pancreatic beta cells during acute pancreatitis, illustrating the pathological influence of EVs derived from inflammatory cells (ref: Gao doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12410/). These studies collectively underscore the multifaceted roles of EVs in mediating both disease progression and potential therapeutic interventions across different conditions, including cancer and neuroinflammation. In addition to their roles in specific diseases, the broader implications of EVs in systemic communication and inflammation are also noteworthy. For example, Papareddy et al. investigated how EV fusion with target cells can trigger systemic inflammation without additional stimulation, indicating a direct mechanism through which EVs can modulate cellular responses to inflammatory signals (ref: Papareddy doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45125-1/). Moreover, Xu et al. reported that elevated levels of extracellular matrix protein 1 in circulating small EVs under obesity conditions support breast cancer progression, linking metabolic disorders with cancer biology (ref: Xu doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45995-5/). Together, these findings highlight the critical role of EVs in mediating disease mechanisms and their potential as therapeutic targets.