Oxidative Stress-Responsive Small Extracellular Vesicles and MicroRNAs in Age-related Macular Degeneration: Biomarkers and Therapeutic Tools

Discov Med. 2022 Jul-Aug;34(171):33-43.

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of blurred vision, and oxidative stress is a leading risk factor for AMD pathology. Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 50-90 nm membrane microvesicles (MVs) released by several cell types in a controlled fashion and they transfer from cell to cell to mediate disease progression. EVs encapsulate and transfer microRNAs (miRNA) to recipient cells. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that inhibit expression and function of targeted mRNAs through miRNA/mRNA interactions in the conserved 3'UTR regions, and in this way they can modulate a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Dysregulation of EVs and their miRNAs cargo from retinal cells is believed to be correlated to a loss of cellular homeostasis and AMD pathology. This review investigates the association between oxidative stress, sEVs, miRNAs, and AMD pathogenesis, and the potential for discovering novel treatment targets for AMD.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / genetics
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration* / pathology
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Oxidative Stress
  • RNA, Messenger

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Messenger