Recent advances in understanding the role of miRNAs in exosomes and their therapeutic potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous non-protein coding RNAs that range in size from 19-25 nucleotides. Thousands of miRNA genes have been identified in a variety of organisms, suggesting genetic exchange and distribution among species. miRNAs negatively regulate gene expression by binding to the 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTRs) of their target genes and play an important role in growth, development and the occurrence of diseases. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the understanding of the role of miRNAs in exosomes and their therapeutic potential, as well as provide an overview of the basic characteristics of miRNAs.