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World J Hepatol. Nov 27, 2023; 15(11): 1196-1209
Published online Nov 27, 2023. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i11.1196
Function of macrophage-derived exosomes in chronic liver disease: From pathogenesis to treatment
Shi-Yi Xiang, Kai-Li Deng, Dong-Xue Yang, Ping Yang, Yu-Ping Zhou
Shi-Yi Xiang, Kai-Li Deng, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang Province, China
Shi-Yi Xiang, Dong-Xue Yang, Ping Yang, Yu-Ping Zhou, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, Zhejiang Province, China
Kai-Li Deng, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Dong-Xue Yang, Yu-Ping Zhou, Institute of Digestive Disease of Ningbo University, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, Zhejiang Province, China
Yu-Ping Zhou, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine Research on Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ningbo Key Laboratory, Ningbo 315020, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Xiang SY performed the writing, prepared the figures and tables; Xiang SY and Deng KL designed the outline and coordinated the writing of the paper; Yang DX, Yang P, and Zhou YP provided review of the draft versions of the paper prior to submission of the final version; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, No. 2022J229; and the Project of Ningbo Leading Medical & Health Discipline, No. 2022-S04.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Yu-Ping Zhou, PhD, Doctor, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, No. 247 Renmin Road, Jiangbei District, Ningbo 315020, Zhejiang Province, China. fyzhouyuping@nbu.eu.cn
Received: September 2, 2023
Peer-review started: September 2, 2023
First decision: September 27, 2023
Revised: October 9, 2023
Accepted: October 23, 2023
Article in press: October 23, 2023
Published online: November 27, 2023
Processing time: 82 Days and 17.3 Hours
Abstract

Chronic liver disease (CLD) imposes a heavy burden on millions of people worldwide. Despite substantial research on the pathogenesis of CLD disorders, no optimal treatment is currently available for some diseases, such as liver cancer. Exosomes, which are extracellular vesicles, are composed of various cellular components. Exosomes have unique functions in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating cell communication, which are associated with the occurrence of disease. Furthermore, they have application potential in diagnosis and treatment by carrying diverse curative payloads. Hepatic macrophages, which are key innate immune cells, show extraordinary heterogeneity and polarization. Hence, macrophage-derived exosomes may play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of various liver diseases. This review focuses on the effects of macrophage-derived exosomes on liver disease etiology and their therapeutic potential, which will provide new insights into alleviating the global pressure of CLD.

Keywords: Chronic liver disease; Macrophage; Exosomes; Function; Etiology; Treatment

Core Tip: Chronic liver disease (CLD) affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide, and identifying the causes and researching viable therapies could lessen the global burden. As nanovesicles produced by cells, exosomes are able to facilitate intercellular communication and play a crucial role in a variety of systemic disorders. Immune cells such as macrophages are intimately associated with liver diseases. In this review, the importance of macrophage-derived exosomes in CLD, from pathophysiology to therapeutic potential, is highlighted.