美国哈佛医学院C. Ronald Kahn和巴西坎皮纳斯州立大学Marcelo A. Mori等人合作综述了细胞外miRNA在生理和疾病中的作用。这一综述于2019年8月22日在线发表在国际学术期刊《细胞—代谢》上。

miRNA可以在血清和其他体液中发现，并且可以作为疾病的生物标志物。更重要的是，分泌的miRNA，尤其是细胞外囊泡（EV）如外泌体中的miRNA，可介导不同组织之间的旁分泌和内分泌交流，从而调节基因表达和远端细胞的功能。当受损时，这些过程可导致组织功能障碍，衰老和疾病。脂肪组织是循环外泌体miRNA库的重要贡献者。因此，在许多代谢条件下发生的脂肪组织质量或功能的改变可导致循环miRNA的变化，然后循环miRNA在全身发挥作用。

细胞外miRNA被认为是细胞间交流的重要介质和疾病治疗的潜在候选者，研究人员回顾了得出这些科学结论的研究结果，并讨论了如何为新的研究线路奠定基础。

附：英文原文

Title: Extracellular miRNAs: From Biomarkers to Mediators of Physiology and Disease

Author: Marcelo A. Mori, Raissa G. Ludwig, Ruben Garcia-Martin, Bruna B. Brando, C. Ronald Kahn

Issue&Volume: 22 August 2019

Abstract: miRNAs can be found in serum and other body fluids and serve as biomarkers for disease. More importantly, secreted miRNAs, especially those in extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes, may mediate paracrine and endocrine communication between different tissues and thus modulate gene expression and the function of distal cells. When impaired, these processes can lead to tissue dysfunction, aging, and disease. Adipose tissue is an especially important contributor to the pool of circulating exosomal miRNAs. As a result, alterations in adipose tissue mass or function, which occur in many metabolic conditions, can lead to changes in circulating miRNAs, which then function systemically. Here we review the findings that led to these conclusions and discuss how this sets the stage for new lines of investigation in which extracellular miRNAs are recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication and potential candidates for therapy of disease.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2019.07.011

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(19)30384-5#