Emerging role of engineered exosomes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD comprises a continuum of liver abnormalities from nonalcoholic fatty liver to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and can even lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, a well-established treatment for NAFLD has yet to be identified. Exosomes have become an ideal drug delivery tool because of their high transmissibility, low immunogenicity, easy accessibility and targeting. Exosomes with specific modifications, known as engineered exosomes, have the potential to treat a variety of diseases. Here, we review the treatment of NAFLD with engineered exosomes and the potential use of exosomes as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NAFLD.

Keywords: Engineered exosome; Exosome; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Targeted therapy.

Figure 1

Diagram shows the correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and engineered exosome. MVB: Multivesicular body; EV: Extracellular vesicles; NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; NAFL: Nonalcoholic fatty liver; STAT3: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; RISC: RNA-induced silencing complex; MST1: Mammalian STE20-like kinase 1; USP7: Ubiquitin specific peptidase 7; KLF3: Kruppel-like factor 3; PINK: PETN induced kinase 1; PI3K: Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase; Akt: Protein kinase B.