Title:Exosomes and Exosomal microRNAs in Age-associated Stroke
Volume: 19
Issue: 6
Author(s): Xiang Wang, Changmei Huang Fu, Xiudeng Zhu, Jiehong Liu, Xinqin Gong, Qunwen Pan*Xiaotang Ma*
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001,China
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Age-Related Cardiac and Cerebral Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001,China
Keywords:
Exosomes, microRNAs, age, stroke, neurovascular unit, neural stem cells.
Abstract: Aging has been considered to be the most important non-modifiable risk factor for
stroke and death. Changes in circulation factors in the systemic environment, cellular senescence
and artery hypertension during human ageing have been investigated. Exosomes are nanosize membrane
vesicles that can regulate target cell functions via delivering their carried bioactive molecules
(e.g. protein, mRNA, and microRNAs). In the central nervous system, exosomes and exosomal microRNAs
play a critical role in regulating neurovascular function and are implicated in stroke initiation
and progression. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that have been reported to play critical
roles in various biological processes. Recently, evidence has shown that microRNAs are packaged
into exosomes and can be secreted into the systemic and tissue environment. Circulating microRNAs
participate in cellular senescence and contribute to age-associated stroke. Here, we provide
an overview of current knowledge on exosomes and their carried microRNAs in the regulation
of cellular and organismal ageing processes, demonstrating the potential role of exosomes and their
carried microRNAs in age-associated stroke.
