Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Sep 3:6:153.
doi: 10.1186/s13287-015-0150-x.

Role of extracellular RNA-carrying vesicles in cell differentiation and reprogramming

Peter J Quesenberry  1 , Jason Aliotta  2 , Maria Chiara Deregibus  3   4 , Giovanni Camussi  5
Affiliations
Review

Role of extracellular RNA-carrying vesicles in cell differentiation and reprogramming

Peter J Quesenberry et al. Stem Cell Res Ther. .

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that transcriptional regulators and secreted RNA molecules encapsulated within membrane vesicles modify the phenotype of _target cells. Membrane vesicles, actively released by cells, represent a mechanism of intercellular communication that is conserved evolutionarily and involves the transfer of molecules able to induce epigenetic changes in recipient cells. Extracellular vesicles, which include exosomes and microvesicles, carry proteins, bioactive lipids, and nucleic acids, which are protected from enzyme degradation. These vesicles can transfer signals capable of altering cell function and/or reprogramming _targeted cells. In the present review we focus on the extracellular vesicle-induced epigenetic changes in recipient cells that may lead to phenotypic and functional modifications. The relevance of these phenomena in stem cell biology and tissue repair is discussed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Combined factors that modulate cell fate and functions. a Soluble growth factors may act as paracrine or autocrine mechanisms by interacting with cell receptors directly or after binding to matrix; extracellular matrix and direct cell-to-cell contact may in turn direct cell fate in a defined microenvironment. The interaction between stem and stromal cells is reciprocal. In addition, oxygen tension and metabolic products may modulate cell phenotype. Extracellular vesicles are part of this complex regulatory network of factors involved in the interaction between cells. b Schematic representation of different modes of action of extracellular vesicles. lncRNA long noncoding RNA, miRNA microRNA
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Model of extracellular vesicle-induced modulation of cell phenotype involved in the repair of tissue injury. EV extracellular vesicle, lncRNA long noncoding RNA, miRNA microRNA
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Sherer NM, Mothes W. Cytonemes and tunnelling nanotubules in cell–cell communication and viral pathogenesis. Trends Cell Biol. 2008;18:414–20. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2008.07.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Peinado H, Lavotshkin S, Lyden D. The secreted factors responsible for pre-metastatic niche formation: old sayings and new thoughts. Semin Cancer Biol. 2011;21:139–46. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2011.01.002. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Discher DE, Mooney DJ, Zandstra PW. Growth factors, matrices, and forces combine and control stem cells. Science. 2009;324:1673–7. doi: 10.1126/science.1171643. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Murry CE, Keller G. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to clinically relevant populations: lessons from embryonic development. Cell. 2008;132:661–80. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.02.008. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Boyer LA, Mathur D, Jaenisch R. Molecular control of pluripotency. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2006;16:455–62. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2006.08.009. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

  NODES
admin 1
twitter 2