Open AccessObstacles and opportunities in the functional analysis of extracellular vesicle RNA – an ISEV position paper
Author(s) -
Mateescu Bogdan,
Kowal Emma J. K.,
Balkom Bas W. M.,
Bartel Sabine,
Bhattacharyya Suvendra N.,
Buzás Edit I.,
Buck Amy H.,
Candia Paola,
Chow Franklin W. N.,
Das Saumya,
Driedonks Tom A. P.,
FernándezMessina Lola,
Haderk Franziska,
Hill Andrew F.,
Jones Jennifer C.,
Van KeurenJensen Kendall R.,
Lai Charles P.,
Lässer Cecilia,
Liegro Italia,
Lunavat Taral R.,
Lorenowicz Magdalena J.,
Maas Sybren L. N.,
Mäger Imre,
Mittelbrunn Maria,
Momma Stefan,
Mukherjee Kamalika,
Nawaz Muhammad,
Pegtel D. Michiel,
Pfaffl Michael W.,
Schiffelers Raymond M.,
Tahara Hidetoshi,
Théry Clotilde,
Tosar Juan Pablo,
Wauben Marca H. M.,
Witwer Kenneth W.,
Nolte't Hoen Esther N. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of extracellular vesicles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.94
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 2001-3078
DOI - 10.1080/20013078.2017.1286095
Subject(s) - rna , computational biology , extracellular vesicles , small interfering rna , rna interference , extracellular vesicle , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemical engineering , chemistry , genetics , gene , microrna , engineering , microvesicles
The release of RNA‐containing extracellular vesicles (EV) into the extracellular milieu has been demonstrated in a multitude of different in vitro cell systems and in a variety of body fluids. RNA‐containing EV are in the limelight for their capacity to communicate genetically encoded messages to other cells, their suitability as candidate biomarkers for diseases, and their use as therapeutic agents. Although EV‐RNA has attracted enormous interest from basic researchers, clinicians, and industry, we currently have limited knowledge on which mechanisms drive and regulate RNA incorporation into EV and on how RNA‐encoded messages affect signalling processes in EV‐targeted cells. Moreover, EV‐RNA research faces various technical challenges, such as standardisation of EV isolation methods, optimisation of methodologies to isolate and characterise minute quantities of RNA found in EV, and development of approaches to demonstrate functional transfer of EV‐RNA in vivo . These topics were discussed at the 2015 EV‐RNA workshop of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles. This position paper was written by the participants of the workshop not only to give an overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, but also to clarify that our incomplete knowledge – of the nature of EV(‐RNA)s and of how to effectively and reliably study them – currently prohibits the implementation of gold standards in EV‐RNA research. In addition, this paper creates awareness of possibilities and limitations of currently used strategies to investigate EV‐RNA and calls for caution in interpretation of the obtained data.