Potential of different cells-derived exosomal microRNA cargos for treating spinal cord injury

Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2021.09.008 · Published: September 28, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Genetics

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disastrous situation that affects many patients worldwide. A profound understanding of the pathology and etiology of SCI is of great importance in inspiring new therapeutic concepts and treatment. Exosomes, which are complex lipid membrane structures secreted nearly by all kinds of plants and animal cells, can transport their valuable cargoes (e.g., proteins, lipids, RNAs) to the targeted cells and exert their communication and regulation functions, which open up a new ﬁeld of treatment of SCI. Among the cargoes of exosomes, microRNAs, through the modulation of their mRNA targets, emerges with great potentiality in the pathological process, diagnosis and treatment of SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review article

Key Findings

1
MSCs derived exosomes containing genetic materials (such as miRNA-486, miRNA-21, miRNA-133b, and miRNA-126 et al.) can be used as a cell-free treatment strategy, which have great potential to promote functional recovery, and their contents can be used as biomarkers of SCI.
2
MiRNAs, especially miR-21 secreted by neurons might be a great approach to treating the SCI
3
Increased miR-124–3p in microglial exosomes exerts a protective effect in injured brain after TBI

Research Summary

In particular, exosomal miRNA has been shown to regulate protein expression in recipient cells and have functional role in vivo. It has been reported that treatment by exosomes in the early stage after SCI could attenuate neuronal cell apoptosis MSCs derived exosomes, which full of phosphatase and tensin homologous small interfering RNA (ExoPTEN), can signiﬁcantly enhance the angiogenesis and axon regeneration in the damaged spinal cord by reducing PTEN expression in rats Exosomal microRNA work on speciﬁc cell populations also suggests that they are a more accurate and stable means of the cell-to-cell communication.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Target

Exosomal miRNAs can be used as a cell-free treatment strategy for SCI, promoting functional recovery.

Biomarker Potential

The contents of MSC-derived exosomes can be used as biomarkers of SCI.

Drug Delivery

Exosomes can be engineered to deliver specific miRNAs to target cells in the spinal cord, enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

Study Limitations

1
Whether exosomes can accurately transfer miRNAs from their parent cells to their target cells has not been well studied
2
The functions of regulating post-transcriptional translation and contribution of SCI and TBI are not transparent.
3
The detailed mechanism of communication between cells is still not well known.

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