Cited by 1,811Extracellular vesicles in diseaseRNA Interference and Gene DeliveryNanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

RNA delivery by extracellular vesicles in mammalian cells and its applications

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O’Brien, Killian, Breyne, Koen, Ughetto, Stefano, Laurent, Louise C., Breakefield, Xandra O.·2020·Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology

Abstract

The term 'extracellular vesicles' refers to a heterogeneous population of vesicular bodies of cellular origin that derive either from the endosomal compartment (exosomes) or as a result of shedding from the plasma membrane (microvesicles, oncosomes and apoptotic bodies). Extracellular vesicles carry a variety of cargo, including RNAs, proteins, lipids and DNA, which can be taken up by other cells, both in the direct vicinity of the source cell and at distant sites in the body via biofluids, and elicit a variety of phenotypic responses. Owing to their unique biology and roles in cell-cell communication, extracellular vesicles have attracted strong interest, which is further enhanced by their potential clinical utility. Because extracellular vesicles derive their cargo from the contents of the cells that produce them, they are attractive sources of biomarkers for a variety of diseases. Furthermore, studies demonstrating phenotypic effects of specific extracellular vesicle-associated cargo on target cells have stoked interest in extracellular vesicles as therapeutic vehicles. There is particularly strong evidence that the RNA cargo of extracellular vesicles can alter recipient cell gene expression and function. During the past decade, extracellular vesicles and their RNA cargo have become better defined, but many aspects of extracellular vesicle biology remain to be elucidated. These include selective cargo loading resulting in substantial differences between the composition of extracellular vesicles and source cells; heterogeneity in extracellular vesicle size and composition; and undefined mechanisms for the uptake of extracellular vesicles into recipient cells and the fates of their cargo. Further progress in unravelling the basic mechanisms of extracellular vesicle biogenesis, transport, and cargo delivery and function is needed for successful clinical implementation. This Review focuses on the current state of knowledge pertaining to packaging, transport and function of RNAs in extracellular vesicles and outlines the progress made thus far towards their clinical applications.

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  • Two primary approaches can accomplish the loading of specific cargoes into exosomes: endogenous loading and exogenous loading.

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  1. [131]Schorey J Cheng Y Extracellular vesicles promote host immunity during an M. tuberculosis infection through RNA sensing bioRxiv 2018 10.1101/346254 · DOI

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Authors
O’Brien, K., Breyne, K., Ughetto, S., Laurent, L. C., & Breakefield, X. O.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
  • Laurent, Louise C.
  • Breakefield, Xandra O.
Venue
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Published
2020-05-26
Volume
21
Issue
10
Pages
585-606
ISSN
  • 1471-0072 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0080
OpenAlex
W3028960763
Cited by
1,811
References
301
Citations by year
2026: 217 · 2025: 282 · 2024: 315 · 2023: 329 · 2022: 338 · 2021: 255 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 2
FWCI
23.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (IG20210, 20210)
  • National Institutes of Health (CA069246)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U01HL126494)
  • National Cancer Institute (P01CA069246, CA069246, CA232103, R35CA232103)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Extracellular vesicles in disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
Keywords
extracellular vesicles, RNA delivery, exosomes, microvesicles, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, RNA cargo, vesicle biogenesis, vesicle uptake, intercellular communication, biomarkers, gene expression regulation
MeSH terms
Extracellular Vesicles, Animals, Biological Transport, Cell Communication, Humans, Mammals, RNA

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