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Dissecting the theranostic potential of exosomes in autoimmune disorders

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 16, pages 935–936 (2019)Cite this article

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ADs are caused by an immune response directed against the host’s own cells, thereby damaging tissues and organs. AD is one of the leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality due to chronic diseases. AD can present as an organ-specific disorder, as in the case of type I diabetes mellitus and multiple sclerosis (MS), or can result in a systemic ailment such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Regardless of the type of AD, the outcome of any AD is precipitated by damage to a single organ or multiple organs. Prompt and precise diagnosis of the type of AD aids in the initiation of appropriate treatment for the disease. Exosomes are vesicular bodies of endosomal origin considered to be conveyers of biological information in the form of proteins and RNAs from one cell to another. The content of these vesicles is unique to each cell type and differs significantly between cells under normal physiological conditions and in pathological transformations. Exosomes are derived from different types of calls, including stem cells and tumor cells and are essentially found ubiquitously in body fluids such as saliva, plasma, ascites, breast milk, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. The stability and array of biological functions exhibited by exosomes make them potential major factors in the diagnosis of ADs.3

The diagnostic potential of exosomes for ADs was documented a few years ago by Ebrahimkhani et al. This team provided the first demonstration of the pool of differentially expressed miRNAs derived from exosomes in relapsing-remitting MS and progressive MS, which is otherwise difficult to classify and diagnose based on clinical parameters. Nine miRNAs, namely, miR-15b-5p, miR-23a-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-374a-5p, miR-30b-5p, miR-433-3p, miR-485-3p, miR-342-3p, and miR-432-5p, were separated from the already identified repertoire of miRNAs and validated in cases of progressive MS. Thus, identification of these exosomal biomarkers is revealed as a “liquid biopsy” approach for the detection and monitoring of MS.4 A similar study provided insight into the role of exosomally derived let-7i microRNA in regulating the pathogenesis of MS by interfering with the IGF1R/TGFBR1 pathway. An increase in the level of let-7i, as observed in patients with MS compared to healthy controls, can serve as a potent diagnostic marker.5 A high expression level of the long noncoding RNA HOTAIR (lncRNA HOTAIR) derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum exosomes was found to critically regulate the molecular pathways associated with macrophage migration, implicating this lncRNA as a potent prognostic marker for rheumatoid arthritis.6 A comprehensive investigation of the serum exosome protein profile of RA patients revealed several proteins to be highly expressed in patients with active RA, inactive RA and osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, there was a six-fold increase in the level of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in active RA patients.

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  1. Biomedical Research Unit and Laboratory Animal Centre-Dental Research Cell, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600077, India

    Vijayashree Priyadharsini Jayaseelan & Paramasivam Arumugam

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  1. Vijayashree Priyadharsini Jayaseelan
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Correspondence to Vijayashree Priyadharsini Jayaseelan.

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Jayaseelan, V.P., Arumugam, P. Dissecting the theranostic potential of exosomes in autoimmune disorders. Cell Mol Immunol 16, 935–936 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-019-0310-5

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