1
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Camara H, Inan MD, Vergani-Junior CA, Pinto S, Knittel TL, Salgueiro WG, Tonon-da-Silva G, Ramirez J, de Moraes D, Braga DL, De-Souza EA, Mori MA. Tissue-specific overexpression of systemic RNA interference components limits lifespan in C. elegans. Gene 2024; 895:148014. [PMID: 37984536 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.148014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Intertissue RNA transport recently emerged as a novel signaling mechanism. In mammals, mounting evidence suggests that small RNA transfer between cells is widespread and used in various physiological contexts. In the nematode C. elegans, a similar mechanism is conferred by the systemic RNAi pathway. Members of the Systemic RNA Interference Defective (SID) family act at different steps of cellular RNA uptake and export. The limiting step in systemic RNA interference (RNAi) is the import of extracellular RNAs via the conserved double-stranded (dsRNA)-gated dsRNA channel SID-1. To better understand the role of RNAs as intertissue signaling molecules, we modified the function of SID-1 in specific tissues of C. elegans. We observed that sid-1 loss-of-function mutants are as healthy as wild-type worms. Conversely, overexpression of sid-1 in C. elegans intestine, muscle, or neurons rendered worms short-lived. The effects of intestinal sid-1 overexpression were attenuated by silencing the components of systemic RNAi sid-1, sid-2 and sid-5, implicating systemic RNA signaling in the lifespan reduction. Accordingly, tissue-specific overexpression of sid-2 and sid-5 also reduced worm lifespan. Additionally, an RNAi screen for components of several non-coding RNA pathways revealed that silencing the miRNA biogenesis proteins PASH-1 and DCR-1 rendered the lifespan of worms with intestinal sid-1 overexpression similar to controls. Collectively, our data support the notion that systemic RNA signaling must be tightly regulated, and unbalancing that process provokes a reduction in lifespan. We termed this phenomenon Intercellular/Extracellular Systemic RNA imbalance (InExS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Camara
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Program in Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mehmet Dinçer Inan
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Vergani-Junior
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Silas Pinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Program in Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago L Knittel
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Willian G Salgueiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Tonon-da-Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Ramirez
- Program in Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diogo de Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Deisi L Braga
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Evandro A De-Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil; Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Program in Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil; Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Experimental Medicine Research Cluster (EMRC), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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2
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Damayo JE, McKee RC, Buchmann G, Norton AM, Ashe A, Remnant EJ. Virus replication in the honey bee parasite, Varroa destructor. J Virol 2023; 97:e0114923. [PMID: 37966226 PMCID: PMC10746231 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01149-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a significant driver of worldwide colony losses of our most important commercial pollinator, the Western honey bee Apis mellifera. Declines in honey bee health are frequently attributed to the viruses that mites vector to honey bees, yet whether mites passively transmit viruses as a mechanical vector or actively participate in viral amplification and facilitate replication of honey bee viruses is debated. Our work investigating the antiviral RNA interference response in V. destructor demonstrates that key viruses associated with honey bee declines actively replicate in mites, indicating that they are biological vectors, and the host range of bee-associated viruses extends to their parasites, which could impact virus evolution, pathogenicity, and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Damayo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca C. McKee
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabriele Buchmann
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Amanda M. Norton
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Academic Support Unit, Research and Advanced Instrumentation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alyson Ashe
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily J. Remnant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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3
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Chen X, Rechavi O. Plant and animal small RNA communications between cells and organisms. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:185-203. [PMID: 34707241 PMCID: PMC9208737 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00425-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of eukaryotic small RNAs as the main effectors of RNA interference in the late 1990s, diverse types of endogenous small RNAs have been characterized, most notably microRNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). These small RNAs associate with Argonaute proteins and, through sequence-specific gene regulation, affect almost every major biological process. Intriguing features of small RNAs, such as their mechanisms of amplification, rapid evolution and non-cell-autonomous function, bestow upon them the capacity to function as agents of intercellular communications in development, reproduction and immunity, and even in transgenerational inheritance. Although there are many types of extracellular small RNAs, and despite decades of research, the capacity of these molecules to transmit signals between cells and between organisms is still highly controversial. In this Review, we discuss evidence from different plants and animals that small RNAs can act in a non-cell-autonomous manner and even exchange information between species. We also discuss mechanistic insights into small RNA communications, such as the nature of the mobile agents, small RNA signal amplification during transit, signal perception and small RNA activity at the destination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Chen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Oded Rechavi
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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4
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Braukmann F, Jordan D, Jenkins B, Koulman A, Miska EA. SID-2 negatively regulates development likely independent of nutritional dsRNA uptake. RNA Biol 2021; 18:888-899. [PMID: 33044912 PMCID: PMC8081039 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2020.1827619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulatory mechanism based on RNA-RNA interaction conserved through eukaryotes. Surprisingly, many animals can take-up human-made double stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the environment to initiate RNAi suggesting a mechanism for dsRNA-based information exchange between organisms and their environment. However, no naturally occurring example has been identified since the discovery of the phenomenon 22 years ago. Therefore it remains enigmatic why animals are able to take up dsRNA. Here, we explore other possible functions by performing phenotypic studies of dsRNA uptake deficient sid-2 mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that SID-2 does not have a nutritional role in feeding experiments using genetic sensitized mutants. Furthermore, we use robot assisted imaging to show that sid-2 mutants accelerate growth rate and, by maternal contribution, body length at hatching. Finally, we perform transcriptome and lipidome analysis showing that sid-2 has no effect on energy storage lipids, but affects signalling lipids and the embryo transcriptome. Overall, these results suggest that sid-2 has mild effects on development and is unlikely functioning in the nutritional uptake of dsRNA. These findings broaden our understanding of the biological role of SID-2 and motivate studies identifying the role of environmental dsRNA uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Braukmann
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Jordan
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benjamin Jenkins
- Core Metabolomics and Lipidomics Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Albert Koulman
- Core Metabolomics and Lipidomics Laboratory, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eric Alexander Miska
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
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5
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Alikina OV, Glazunova OA, Bykov AA, Kiselev SS, Tutukina MN, Shavkunov KS, Ozoline ON. A cohabiting bacterium alters the spectrum of short RNAs secreted by Escherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:5146451. [PMID: 30376063 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, it has been found that bacteria secrete short RNAs able to affect gene expression in eukaryotic cells, while certain mammalian microRNAs shape the gut microbiome altering bacterial transcriptome. The involvement of bacterial RNAs in communication with other bacteria is also expected, but has not been documented yet. Here, we compared the fractions of extremely short (12-22 nucleotides) RNAs secreted by Escherichia coli grown in a pure culture and jointly with bacteria of the Paenibacillus genus. Besides fragments of rRNAs and tRNAs, abundant in all samples, secreted oligonucleotides (exoRNAs) predominantly contained GC-rich fragments of messenger and antisense RNAs processed from regions with stable secondary structures. They differed in composition from oligonucleotides of intracellular fraction, where fragments of small regulatory RNAs were prevalent. Both fractions contained RNAs capable of forming complementary duplexes, while for exoRNA samples a higher percentage of 3΄-end modified RNAs and different endonuclease cleavage were detected. The presence of a cohabiting bacterium altered the spectrum of E. coli exoRNAs, indicating a population-dependent control over their composition. Possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.
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MESH Headings
- Biological Transport
- Escherichia coli/chemistry
- Escherichia coli/genetics
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Genome, Bacterial
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- RNA, Antisense/chemistry
- RNA, Antisense/genetics
- RNA, Antisense/metabolism
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/chemistry
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer/genetics
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Alikina
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Olga A Glazunova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
- Pushchino Research Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Alexandr A Bykov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Sergey S Kiselev
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Maria N Tutukina
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
- Pushchino Research Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Konstantin S Shavkunov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
- Pushchino Research Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
| | - Olga N Ozoline
- Institute of Cell Biophysics of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
- Pushchino Research Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russian Federation
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6
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Chan SY, Snow JW. Formidable challenges to the notion of biologically important roles for dietary small RNAs in ingesting mammals. GENES AND NUTRITION 2017; 12:13. [PMID: 29308096 PMCID: PMC5753850 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-017-0561-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The notion of uptake of active diet-derived small RNAs (sRNAs) in recipient organisms could have significant implications for our understanding of oral therapeutics and nutrition, for the safe use of RNA interference (RNAi) in agricultural biotechnology, and for ecological relationships. Yet, the transfer and subsequent regulation of gene activity by diet-derived sRNAs in ingesting mammals are still heavily debated. Here, we synthesize current information based on multiple independent studies of mammals, invertebrates, and plants. Rigorous assessment of these data emphasize that uptake of active dietary sRNAs is neither a robust nor a prevalent mechanism to maintain steady-state levels in higher organisms. While disagreement still continues regarding whether such transfer may occur in specialized contexts, concerns about technical difficulties and a lack of consensus on appropriate methods have led to questions regarding the reproducibility and biologic significance of some seemingly positive results. For any continuing investigations, concerted efforts should be made to establish a strong mechanistic basis for potential effects of dietary sRNAs and to agree on methodological guidelines for realizing such proof. Such processes would ensure proper interpretation of studies aiming to prove dietary sRNA activity in mammals and inform potential for application in therapeutics and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Y Chan
- Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, BST 1704.2, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Jonathan W Snow
- Department of Biology, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027 USA
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7
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Chan SY, Snow JW. Uptake and impact of natural diet-derived small RNA in invertebrates: Implications for ecology and agriculture. RNA Biol 2017; 14:402-414. [PMID: 27763816 PMCID: PMC5411125 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1248329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The putative transfer and gene regulatory activities of diet-derived small RNAs (sRNAs) in ingesting animals are still debated. The existence of natural uptake of diet-derived sRNA by invertebrate species could have significant implication for our understanding of ecological relationships and could synergize with efforts to use RNA interference (RNAi) technology in agriculture. Here, we synthesize information gathered from studies in invertebrates using natural or artificial dietary delivery of sRNA and from studies of sRNA in vertebrate animals and plants to review our current understanding of uptake and impact of natural diet-derived sRNA on invertebrates. Our understanding has been influenced and sometimes confounded by the diversity of invertebrates and ingested plants studied, our limited insights into how gene expression may be modulated by dietary sRNAs at the mechanistic level, and the paucity of studies focusing directly on natural uptake of sRNA. As such, we suggest 2 strategies to investigate this phenomenon more comprehensively and thus facilitate the realization of its potentially broad impact on ecology and agriculture in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Y. Chan
- Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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8
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Braukmann F, Jordan D, Miska E. Artificial and natural RNA interactions between bacteria and C. elegans. RNA Biol 2017; 14:415-420. [PMID: 28332918 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2017.1297912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nineteen years after Lisa Timmons and Andy Fire first described RNA transfer from bacteria to C. elegans in an experimental setting 48 the biologic role of this trans-kingdom RNA-based communication remains unknown. Here we summarize our current understanding on the mechanism and potential role of such social RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Braukmann
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - David Jordan
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK
| | - Eric Miska
- a Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,b Department of Genetics , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , UK.,c Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute , Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge , UK
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9
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Simonov D, Swift S, Blenkiron C, Phillips AR. Bacterial RNA as a signal to eukaryotic cells as part of the infection process. Discoveries (Craiova) 2016; 4:e70. [PMID: 32309589 PMCID: PMC7159825 DOI: 10.15190/d.2016.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of regulatory RNA has identified an underappreciated area for microbial subversion of the host. There is increasing evidence that RNA can be delivered from bacteria to host cells associated with membrane vesicles or by direct release from intracellular bacteria. Once inside the host cell, RNA can act by activating sequence-independent receptors of the innate immune system, where recent findings suggest this can be more than simple pathogen detection, and may contribute to the subversion of immune responses. Sequence specific effects are also being proposed, with examples from nematode, plant and human models providing support for the proposition that bacteria-to-human RNA signaling and the subversion of host gene expression may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Simonov
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Simon Swift
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cherie Blenkiron
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony R Phillips
- Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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10
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Fritz JV, Heintz-Buschart A, Ghosal A, Wampach L, Etheridge A, Galas D, Wilmes P. Sources and Functions of Extracellular Small RNAs in Human Circulation. Annu Rev Nutr 2016; 36:301-36. [PMID: 27215587 PMCID: PMC5479634 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-071715-050711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Various biotypes of endogenous small RNAs (sRNAs) have been detected in human circulation, including microRNAs, transfer RNAs, ribosomal RNA, and yRNA fragments. These extracellular sRNAs (ex-sRNAs) are packaged and secreted by many different cell types. Ex-sRNAs exhibit differences in abundance in several disease states and have, therefore, been proposed for use as effective biomarkers. Furthermore, exosome-borne ex-sRNAs have been reported to elicit physiological responses in acceptor cells. Exogenous ex-sRNAs derived from diet (most prominently from plants) and microorganisms have also been reported in human blood. Essential issues that remain to be conclusively addressed concern the (a) presence and sources of exogenous ex-sRNAs in human bodily fluids, (b) detection and measurement of ex-sRNAs in human circulation, (c) selectivity of ex-sRNA export and import, (d) sensitivity and specificity of ex-sRNA delivery to cellular targets, and (e) cell-, tissue-, organ-, and organism-wide impacts of ex-sRNA-mediated cell-to-cell communication. We survey the present state of knowledge of most of these issues in this review.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biological Transport
- Biomarkers/blood
- Cell Communication
- Diet
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Humans
- Immunity, Innate
- MicroRNAs/blood
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- Models, Biological
- RNA, Bacterial/blood
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Plant/blood
- RNA, Plant/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal/blood
- RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/blood
- RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
- RNA, Small Untranslated/blood
- RNA, Small Untranslated/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/blood
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
- RNA, Viral/blood
- RNA, Viral/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle V Fritz
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; ,
| | - Anna Heintz-Buschart
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; ,
| | - Anubrata Ghosal
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
| | - Linda Wampach
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; ,
| | - Alton Etheridge
- Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98122
| | - David Galas
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; ,
- Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98122
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg; ,
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11
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Jose AM. Movement of regulatory RNA between animal cells. Genesis 2015; 53:395-416. [PMID: 26138457 PMCID: PMC4915348 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Revised: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that RNA can move from one cell to another and regulate genes through specific base-pairing. Mechanisms that modify or select RNA for secretion from a cell are unclear. Secreted RNA can be stable enough to be detected in the extracellular environment and can enter the cytosol of distant cells to regulate genes. Mechanisms that import RNA into the cytosol of an animal cell can enable uptake of RNA from many sources including other organisms. This role of RNA is akin to that of steroid hormones, which cross cell membranes to regulate genes. The potential diagnostic use of RNA in human extracellular fluids has ignited interest in understanding mechanisms that enable the movement of RNA between animal cells. Genetic model systems will be essential to gain more confidence in proposed mechanisms of RNA transport and to connect an extracellular RNA with a specific biological function. Studies in the worm C. elegans and in other animals have begun to reveal parts of this novel mechanism of cell-to-cell communication. Here, I summarize the current state of this nascent field, highlight the many unknowns, and suggest future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony M Jose
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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