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Review
. 2025 Mar 31;45(1):31.
doi: 10.1007/s10571-025-01551-3.

Extracellular Vesicle-Derived miRNAs in Ischemic Stroke: Roles in Neuroprotection, Tissue Regeneration, and Biomarker Potential

Ceren Eyileten #  1   2 , Pamela Czajka #  3 , Izabela Domitrz  4 , Agata Wierzchowska-Ciok  4 , Aleksandra Gasecka  5 , Dagmara Mirowska-Guzel  3 , Anna Członkowska  3   6 , Marek Postula  3
Affiliations
Review

Extracellular Vesicle-Derived miRNAs in Ischemic Stroke: Roles in Neuroprotection, Tissue Regeneration, and Biomarker Potential

Ceren Eyileten et al. Cell Mol Neurobiol. .

Abstract

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite its prevalence, knowledge about pathophysiology and diagnostic methods remains limited. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are released from cellular membranes constitutively, as well as after activation or damage, may contain various intracellular particles, including microRNAs (miRNAs/miR). miRNAs acting as mRNA transcription regulators are secreted in EVs and may be internalized by other cells. This cellular cross-talk is important for the regeneration of the nervous tissue after ischemic injury. Moreover, miRNAs related to stroke pathophysiology were shown to be differentially expressed after an IS episode. miRNAs associated with various types of stem cell-derived EVs were shown to be involved in post-ischemic neuroprotection and tissue regeneration and may be potential therapeutic agents. Therefore, considering their stability in plasma, they are worth investigating also as potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. The present review summarizes the current knowledge about EV-derived miRNAs in the neuronal injury mechanism and their potential in neuroprotection in IS, and discusses the possibilities of further investigation of their use in preclinical research.

Keywords: Biomarker; Exosomes; Ischemic stroke; MicroRNA; Microvesicles; Prognosis; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mechanism of miRNAs and EVs in ischemic injury. A Astrocyte-derived exosomal miRNAs. B Effect of HUCMSC-derived EVs on microglial activity. C Influence of BMSC-derived EVs on the neurons after ischemic damage. D Mechanism of action of ADSC-derived EV-associated miRNAs in IS. E Possible neuroprotective action of RIPC. Abbreviation: ADSCs, adipose-derived stem cells; BMSCs, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, EVs, extracellular vesicles; HUCMSCs, umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells; IL-1ꞵ, interleukin 1ꞵ; IL-6, interleukin 6; MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion; OGD, oxygen–glucose deprivation; RIPC, remote post-ischemic conditioning; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Network of stem cell-derived EVs and astrocyt-derived exosomal miRNAs and their target genes. Abbreviations: HUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; BMSCs, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; ADSCs, adipose-derived stem cells; EVs, extracellular vesicles; MSCs, Mesenchymal stem cells; miR/miRNA, microRNA
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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