Extracellular Vesicle-Shuttling MicroRNAs Regulate the Development of Inflammatory Lung Responses.

MicroRNAs are small single-stranded, non-coding RNAs which have a known role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Recent studies have reported that extracellular vesicles are capable of specific delivery of miRNAs to a target cell or tissue from a host cell. MiRNAs are generated by host cells, selectively packaged into EVs, and then delivered to nearby target cells with full functionality. After delivery to the target cells, these EV-packaged miRNAs regulate the translation of their target genes. Thus, EV transported miRNAs have become a newly understood method for intercellular communication. In this review, we summarize the novel findings of EV-miRNA transfer in acute lung injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.