%0 Journal Article
%T Exosomal miRNAs: Biological Properties and Therapeutic Potential
%A Guoku Hu
%A Xian-Ming Chen
%J Frontiers in Genetics
%D 2012
%I Frontiers Media
%R 10.3389/fgene.2012.00056
%X MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, are master regulators of a wide array of cellular processes. Altered miRNA expression could be a determinant of disease development and/or progression and manipulation of miRNA expression represents a potential avenue of therapy. Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles that promote cell¨Ccell communication and immunoregulatory functions. These ¡°bioactive vesicles¡± shuttle various molecules, including miRNAs, to recipient cells. Inappropriate release of miRNAs from exosomes may cause significant alterations in biological pathways that affect disease development, supporting the concept that miRNA-containing exosomes could serve as targeted therapies for particular diseases. This review briefly summarizes recent advances in the biology, function, and therapeutic potential of exosomal miRNAs.
%K microRNAs
%K exosomes
%K post-transcriptional regulation
%K cancer
%K therapy
%U http://www.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fgene.2012.00056/abstract