Exosomal microRNAs: Potential Nanotherapeutic Targets for Diabetic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a primary cause for end-stage renal disease, but no specific therapeutic approaches exist. Exosomal miRNAs, a key functional cargo of nanovesicles, play crucial roles in the pathophysiological processes of DKD. Exosomal miRNAs are involved in cell-to-cell transfer of biological information, mediating nephritic inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and fibrosis. Circulating exosomal miRNAs derived from urine or serum might function as noninvasive prognostic biomarkers for DKD. Exosomal miRNAs from stem cells have been reported to exert beneficial effects on diabetic kidneys, which suggests that these exosomes might function as potential nanotherapy tools for treating DKD. In this review, we have summarized recent studies based on the association between exosomal miRNAs and DKD.

Keywords::

• diabetic kidney disease
• exosomes
• microRNAs
• nanotherapy
• stem cells

Financial disclosure

The authors have no financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.