Exosomal miRNAs: novel players in viral infection.

Javid Sadri Nahand, Maryam Mahjoubin-Tehran, Mohsen Moghoofei, Mohammad Hossein Pourhanifeh, Hamid Reza Mirzaei, Zatollah Asemi, Alireza Khatami, Farah Bokharaei-Salim, Hamed Mirzaei, Michael R Hamblin

Journal: Epigenomics 2021;12(4):353-370

PMID: 32093516

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Abstract

Exosomes are secreted nanovesicles that are able to transfer their cargo (such as miRNAs) between cells. To determine to what extent exosomes and exosomal miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis, progression and diagnosis of viral infections. The scientific literature (PubMed and Google Scholar) was searched from 1970 to 2019. The complex biogenesis of exosomes and miRNAs was reviewed. Exosomes contain both viral and host miRNAs that can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for viral diseases. Viral proteins can alter miRNAs, and conversely miRNAs can alter the host response to viral infections in a positive or negative manner. It is expected that exosomal miRNAs will be increasingly used for diagnosis, monitoring and even treatment of viral infections.

Address: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.; Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran.; Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Research Center for Biochemistry & Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.; Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0192