外质体(Exosomes)与肾脏疾病

Exosomes and kidney diseases

外质体(Exosomes)是起源于多泡体的微小囊泡,由细胞内吞途径中的多泡体外膜和细胞膜融合后释放到胞外环境或体液中。Exosomes含有多种蛋白、mRNAs、microRNAs、信号分子等,能够反映来源细胞的生物学状态,因而可能成为潜在的生物学标志物。目前,exosomes的研究大多集中在免疫学和肿瘤学,并已经成为一种免疫治疗的新手段,应用于肿瘤治疗和免疫耐受等方面。近年人们才关注exosomes与肾脏疾病的关系,研究表明几乎所有肾脏上皮细胞包括肾小球足细胞、肾小管上皮细胞、尿道上皮细胞均可分泌exosomes,因此尿液来源的exosomes可能成为寻找肾脏疾病早期诊断的标志物。本文着重从exosomes的生物学特性及其在肾脏疾病诊断和治疗的研究进行综述。

Exosomes are nanovesicles originating from multivesicular bodies （MVBs） and secreted into the extracellular space or body fluids when a multivesicular body （endocytic origin） fuses with the plasma membrane. Exosomes contain multiple proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, and signaling molecules that may reflect the physiological state of their cells of origin and consequently provide potential biomarkers. At present ,the studies on exosomes are mostly focused on their roles in immunology and oncology and exosome-based immunotherapy has become a new means in cancer treatment and immune tolerance. In recent years,urinary exosomes （UE） and their roles in kidney diseases have been receiving great attention. Exosomes are secreted to the urine from all types of renal epithelial cell, including glomerular podocytes, renal tubular cells, and the cells lining the urinary drainage system. Thus, urinary exosomes have potential as a source of valuable biomarkers for early detection of kidney diseases. The present review aims to summarize their biological characteristics, and their potential uses in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease.