**2.2 Apoptotic cell-derived extra cellular vesicles**

Apoptotic cell-derived extracellular vesicles (ApoEVs) are subcellular and membrane bound in nature. They are produced when cells are undergoing senescence. Further they can be derived from various cell types including endothelial cells, osteoblasts, precursor cells, stem cells and immunocytes [22]. Basically, three major steps are involved in ApoEVs formation. Firstly, there is a prerequisite step which involves cell surface membrane blebbing [23], which is then followed by projections of apoptotic membrane such as apoptopodia, beaded apoptopodia and microtubule spikes which releases 10–20 ApoEVs [24] and lastly the final formation of ApoEVs. Several factors have been shown to present the regulatory function on the generation of ApoEVs, these includes Rho-associated kinase (ROCK1) [25, 26] and Myosin-Light Chain Kinase (MLCK) [27]. Specifically, MLCK is known to enhance nuclear material packaging into ApoEVs, thus molecules that could inhibit caspases, MLCK and ROCK1 are also able to downregulate the production of ApoEVs [28]. Orlando et al., report that formation of blebs which is the first stage in ApoEVs formation are mediated by the presence of actomyosin which increases cell contraction leading to elevated hydrostatic pressure [29]. Researchers have unraveled that ApoEVs are key messengers released by dying cells to regulate processes including cell clearance, tissue homeostasis, pathogen dissemination and immunity thereby implicating them as therapeutic targets and diagnostic purposes.
