Abstract
In the last two decades, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have aroused wide interest among researchers in basic and clinical research. EVs, small membrane vesicles are released by almost all kinds of cells into the extracellular environment. According to many recent studies, EVs participate in immunomodulation and play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In addition, EVs have great potential in the diagnosis and therapy of autoimmune diseases. Here, we reviewed the latest research advances on the functions and mechanisms of EVs and their roles in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are both autoimmune diseases that can involve multiple organs
When collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats were treated with human umbilical cord Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the results showed that hUCMSCs can reduce T lymphocyte activity and function, as well as inhibit Th17 cells and induce Treg cells to alleviate the disease [78]
Another important exosomal miRNA is miR-21 contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs), facilitating estrogen-regulated STAT1 activation and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 8 expression in SLE. miRNAs can be endogenous ligands of human TLR7, which is the single-stranded RNA receptor expressed by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. miR-21 can replace viral ssRNA to combine with TLR8 to stimulate innate immune responses [60]
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are both autoimmune diseases that can involve multiple organs. Their etiologies and pathogenesis are complex, and epigenetic and environmental factors are shown to be associated with the onset of the disease [1, 2]. EVs are phospholipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles secreted from all cell types. EVs play an important role in cellular communication processes. Intercellular communication was thought to have two modes, direct contact between cells and secretion of cellular molecules [8]. It is demonstrated that EVs are involved as carriers in intercellular communication by transporting lipids, proteins, and other components [11]. EVs can carry mitochondria to regulate immunity and alter the phenotype of macrophages [13]
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