Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes and Their MicroRNAs in Heart Repair and Regeneration

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2024 Jun;17(3):505-522. doi: 10.1007/s12265-023-10449-8. Epub 2023 Oct 24.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be differentiated into cardiac, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells. Therefore, MSC-based therapeutic approaches have the potential to deal with the aftermaths of cardiac diseases. However, transplanted stem cells rarely survive in damaged myocardium, proposing that paracrine factors other than trans-differentiation may involve in heart regeneration. Apart from cytokines/growth factors, MSCs secret small, single-membrane organelles named exosomes. The MSC-secreted exosomes are enriched in lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and microRNA (miRNA). There has been an increasing amount of data that confirmed that MSC-derived exosomes and their active molecule microRNA (miRNAs) regulate signaling pathways involved in heart repair/regeneration. In this review, we systematically present an overview of MSCs, their cardiac differentiation, and the role of MSC-derived exosomes and exosomal miRNAs in heart regeneration. In addition, biological functions regulated by MSC-derived exosomes and exosomal-derived miRNAs in the process of heart regeneration are reviewed.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Heart regeneration; Mesenchymal stem cells; MicroRNA.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Exosomes* / genetics
  • Exosomes* / metabolism
  • Exosomes* / transplantation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Heart Diseases / genetics
  • Heart Diseases / metabolism
  • Heart Diseases / pathology
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Heart Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Recovery of Function*
  • Regeneration*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs