Progress in research on the role of exosomal miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Analyzing exosomal miRNA profiles in tetralogy of fallot fetuses' amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid (AF)-derived exosomal miRNA have been explored as potential contributors to the pathogenesis of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). This study aimed to investigate the expression profiles of AF-derived exosomal miRNAs and their potential contribution to TOF development. Exosomes were isolated from AF samples obtained from pregnant women carrying fetuses diagnosed with TOF. AF-derived exosomal miRNAs expression profiles were generated using the Agilent human miRNA Array V21.0, comparing 5 TOF samples with 5 healthy controls. Differential expression analysis identified 257 significantly dysregulated miRNAs in the TOF group. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the predicted targets of these differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in pathways associated with congenital disorders. Notably, 25 of these miRNAs were previously reported to be regulated by both Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, which are critical to heart development. Further investigation using mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells revealed that miR-10a-5p overexpression inhibited cardiomyogenic differentiation, as evidenced by the suppression of cardiomyocyte marker genes like TBX5. A dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed TBX5 as a direct target of miR-10a-5p, suggesting a regulatory mechanism involving their interaction. In summary, our study demonstrates that miR-10a-5p may contribute to the pathogenesis of TOF by impairing cardiomyocyte differentiation through direct targeting of TBX5. These findings enhance our understanding of TOF and its molecular underpinnings.

Exosomes based strategies for cardiovascular diseases: Opportunities and challenges

Exosomes, as nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs), are secreted by all types of cells to facilitate intercellular communication in living organisms. After being taken up by neighboring or distant cells, exosomes can alter the expression levels of target genes in recipient cells and thereby affect their pathophysiological outcomes depending on payloads encapsulated therein. The functions and mechanisms of exosomes in cardiovascular diseases have attracted much attention in recent years and are thought to have cardioprotective and regenerative potential. This review summarizes the biogenesis and molecular contents of exosomes and details the roles played by exosomes released from various cells in the progression and recovery of cardiovascular disease. The review also discusses the current status of traditional exosomes in cardiovascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, pointing out several limitations in their application. It emphasizes that some of the existing emerging industrial or bioengineering technologies are promising to compensate for these shortcomings, and the combined application of exosomes and biomaterials provides an opportunity for mutual enhancement of their performance. The integration of exosome-based cell-free diagnostic and therapeutic options will contribute to the further development of cardiovascular regenerative medicine.

Mechanisms of Stem Cells and Their Secreted Exosomes in the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases

Stem cells play a therapeutic role in many diseases by virtue of their strong self-renewal and differentiation abilities, especially in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. At present, the mechanism of the stem cell treatment of autoimmune diseases mainly relies on their immune regulation ability, regulating the number and function of auxiliary cells, anti-inflammatory factors and proinflammatory factors in patients to reduce inflammation. On the other hand, the stem cell- derived secretory body has weak immunogenicity and low molecular weight, can target the site of injury, and can extend the length of its active time in the patient after combining it with the composite material. Therefore, the role of secretory bodies in the stem cell treatment of autoimmune diseases is increasingly important.