Extracellular Micro-RNAs in Health and Disease: Basic Science, Biogenesis and Release
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Date
2016-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
Small non-protein coding micro-RNAs are regularly exported out of cells, both in health and disease.
More than ninety percent of extracellular miRNAs are associated with lower-molecular-mass
complexes bound to Argonaute 2 (Ago2), nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) and high density lipoproteins
(HDL), whereas the rest (~10%) are membrane-vesicle-encapsulated within exosomes, shedding
microvesicles and apoptotic bodies. Regardless of the debate of the nature of circulating miRNA as
byproducts of routine cell activities or mediators of cell-cell communication, proper understanding
of the molecular behaviors of miRNA in health and disease, is expected to open a new gate for
the discovery of new diagnostic tools and possibly therapeutic implementation in the near future.
Description
Keywords
Extracellular miRNAs, Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), Exosomes, Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT), Microvesicles (MVs)
Citation
American Journal of Molecular Biology, 2016, 6, 1-11