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Review
. 2018 Apr 28:420:228-235.
doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.02.002. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs): Small molecules with a big role in cancer

Rahul Bhome  1 , Filippo Del Vecchio  2 , Gui-Han Lee  1 , Marc D Bullock  1 , John N Primrose  3 , A Emre Sayan  2 , Alex H Mirnezami  4
Affiliations
Review

Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs): Small molecules with a big role in cancer

Rahul Bhome et al. Cancer Lett. .

Abstract

Exosomes are secreted vesicles which can transmit molecular cargo between cells. Exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs) have drawn much attention in recent years because there is increasing evidence to suggest that loading of microRNAs into exosomes is not a random process. Preclinical studies have identified functional roles for exomiRs in influencing many hallmarks of cancer. Mechanisms underpinning their actions, such as exomiR receptors ("miRceptors"), are now becoming apparent. Even more exciting is the fact that exomiRs are highly suitable candidates for use as non-invasive biomarkers in an era of personalized cancer medicine.

Keywords: biomarker; cancer; exomiR; exosome; microRNA.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Exosome-related research has risen exponentially. Graphical representation of articles indexed by PubMed over time, containing the search terms (a) “exosome” and “cancer” and (b) “exosome” and “microRNA” and “cancer”.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exosomes: extracellular vesicles with an endosomal origin. Endosomes are packaged into MVBs, which are trafficked either to the cell membrane for secretion (cholesterol-rich) or to lysosomes (cholesterol-poor) for degradation. MVBs fuse with the cell membrane to release exosomes.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Size, morphology and expression profile characterize exosomes. (A) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of MRC5 fibroblast exosome (120 000x) demonstrating bi-layered structure. (B) Immunogold staining of primary mesenchymal stem cell exosomes with CD63. Scale bars in both panels represent 200 nm.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
ExomiR sorting is multi-faceted. A schematic diagram to summarize postulated mechanisms for sorting of miRNAs into exosomes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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