Published online Nov 26, 2020. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i11.1276
Peer-review started: June 21, 2020
First decision: August 9, 2020
Revised: August 23, 2020
Accepted: September 18, 2020
Article in press: September 18, 2020
Published online: November 26, 2020
Processing time: 158 Days and 1.4 Hours
Mesenchymal stem cells can be replaced by exosomes for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, injury repair, degenerative diseases, and tumors. Exosomes are small vesicles rich in a variety of nucleic acids [including messenger RNA, Long non-coding RNA, microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA], proteins, and lipids. Exosomes can be secreted by most cells in the human body and are known to play a key role in the communication of information and material transport between cells. Like exosomes, miRNAs were neglected before their role in various activities of organisms was discovered. Several studies have confirmed that miRNAs play a vital role within exosomes. This review focuses on the specific role of miRNAs in MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes) and the methods commonly used by researchers to study miRNAs in exosomes. Taken together, miRNAs from MSC-exosomes display immense potential and practical value, both in basic medicine and future clinical applications, in treating several diseases.
Core Tip: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes) have obvious therapeutic effects on inflammation, organ damage, and tumors. Exosomes are membranes containing many substances, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. In many studies, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be the core substance of therapeutic effect after exosomes are engulfed by cells. MiRNAs in exosomes secreted by different stem cells are diverse. In turn, different miRNAs target different genes to treat matched diseases. This point of view proves that miRNAs in MSC-exosomes have a broad research space.