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Cited by 314Extracellular vesicles in diseaseMicroRNA in disease regulationRNA Interference and Gene Delivery

Lipid-based carriers of microRNAs and intercellular communication

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Vickers, Kasey C., Remaley, Alan T.·2012·Current Opinion in Lipidology
DOI 10.1097/mol.0b013e328350a425PMC PMC5570485
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Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) are uniquely stable in plasma, and the levels of specific circulating miRNAs can differ with disease. Extracellular miRNAs are associated with lipid-based carriers and lipid-free proteins. miRNAs can be transferred from cell-to-cell by lipid-based carriers and affect gene expression. This review summarizes recent studies that demonstrate the transfer of miRNA between cells and their potential role in intercellular communication. RECENT FINDINGS: Microvesicles, exosomes, apoptotic bodies, lipoproteins, and large microparticles contain miRNAs. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are transferred between dendritic cells, hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and adipocytes in lipid-based carriers. miRNAs are also transferred from T cells to antigen-presenting cells, from stem cells to endothelial cells and fibroblasts, from macrophages to breast cancer cells, and from epithelial cells to hepatocytes in lipid-based carriers. The cellular export of miRNAs in lipid-based carriers is regulated by the ceramide pathway, and the delivery of lipid-associated miRNAs to recipient cells is achieved by various routes, including endocytotic uptake, membrane-fusion, and scavenger receptors. SUMMARY: Cellular miRNAs are exported in and to lipid-based carriers (vesicles and lipoprotein particles) and transferred to recipient cells with gene expression changes as intercellular communication.

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  • Extracellular vesicles can transfer RNAs such as non-coding RNAs from one cell to another and thereby contribute to inter-cellular communication.

    “Recent studies have confirmed that EV can transfer RNAs such as ncRNAs from one cell to another and thereby contribute to important roles in inter-cellular communication (3–9).”

    From Analysis of Extracellular RNA by Digital PCR (2014) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Vickers, K. C., & Remaley, A. T.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Vickers, Kasey C.
ORCID
Venue
Current Opinion in Lipidology
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2012-04
Volume
23
Issue
2
Pages
91-97
ISSN
0957-9672 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/mol.0b013e328350a425
PMC
PMC5570485
OpenAlex
W2313108251
Cited by
314
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 13
FWCI
3.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Lipidology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (Z99 HL999999)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K22HL113039)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Extracellular vesicles in disease
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
Keywords
extracellular microRNAs, lipid carriers, intercellular communication, microvesicles, exosomes, apoptotic bodies, lipoproteins, microparticles, ceramide pathway, membrane fusion, endocytosis, scavenger receptors, dendritic cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, adipocytes, T cells, antigen-presenting cells, macrophages, breast cancer, stem cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, hepatocytes, circulating microRNAs
MeSH terms
Biological Transport, Cell Communication, Endocytosis, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Lipids, Receptors, Cell Surface, MicroRNAs, Exosomes

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