Semin Liver Dis 2025; 45(02): 167-179
DOI: 10.1055/a-2494-2233
Review Article

Extracellular Vesicles and Micro-RNAs in Liver Disease

Alexander M. Washington
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
2   Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
,
Enis Kostallari
1   Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
3   Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
› Institutsangaben

Funding This study was supported by the NIH R01 DK136511, Mayo Clinic Center for Biomedical Discoveries, Gilead Liver Scholar award (to E.K.) and Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences stipend (to A.M.W.).


Preview

Abstract

Progression of liver disease is dependent on intercellular signaling, including those mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). Within these EVs, microRNAs (miRNAs) are packaged to selectively silence gene expression in recipient cells for upregulating or downregulating a specific pathway. Injured hepatocytes secrete EV-associated miRNAs which can be taken up by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, immune cells, hepatic stellate cells, and other cell types. In addition, these recipient cells will secrete their own EV-associated miRNAs to propagate a response throughout the tissue and the circulation. In this review, we comment on the implications of EV-miRNAs in the progression of alcohol-associated liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, viral and parasitic infections, liver fibrosis, and liver malignancies. We summarize how circulating miRNAs can be used as biomarkers and the potential of utilizing EVs and miRNAs as therapeutic methods to treat liver disease.

Author Contribution

E.K. conceived and supervised the study; A.W. and E.K. wrote and revised the manuscript.




Publikationsverlauf

Accepted Manuscript online:
03. Dezember 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Dezember 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA