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Review
. 2014;4(1):31-7.
doi: 10.1007/s13346-013-0180-9.

A paradigm shift for extracellular vesicles as small RNA carriers: from cellular waste elimination to therapeutic applications

Keitaro Hagiwara  1 , Takahiro Ochiya  2 , Nobuyoshi Kosaka  2
Affiliations
Review

A paradigm shift for extracellular vesicles as small RNA carriers: from cellular waste elimination to therapeutic applications

Keitaro Hagiwara et al. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2014.

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is an important avenue for target-specific gene silencing that is mainly performed by either small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or microRNAs (miRNAs). This novel method is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for gene therapy. However, the rapid degradation of siRNAs and miRNAs and the limited duration of their action in vivo call for an efficient delivery technology. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as delivery systems. The use of EVs as small RNA carriers has multiple advantages over conventional delivery systems. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding the potential application of EVs as small RNA delivery systems. Moreover, we focus on some of the obstacles to EV-based therapeutics.

Keywords: Drug delivery system; Exosome; Extracellular vesicles; RNAi; miRNA; siRNA.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic representation of the paradigm shift in EVs. Since their discovery, EVs were initially considered to solely be cellular waste elimination systems (a). However, EVs have recently been found to contain both mRNA and miRNA. Additionally, EVs can be transferred between cells, and exosomal miRNAs were functional in recipient cells (b). Therefore, many researchers hope that EVs can be used as novel RNAi delivery systems for human therapy in the near future (c)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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