Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 10, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
09:06

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

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MicroRNAs as paracrine signaling mediators in cancers and metabolic diseases

Akiko Matsuda1, Irene K Yan1, Catherine Foye1

  • 1Departments of Transplantation and Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
|December 8, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in cell-to-cell communication. These molecules can travel between cells, influencing gene expression and offering potential therapeutic targets for diseases like cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are established regulators of mRNA expression in physiological and developmental processes.
  • Emerging evidence highlights miRNAs' crucial function in intercellular signaling and communication.
  • miRNAs are stable in extracellular environments, protected by proteins, lipoproteins, or vesicles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of miRNAs as mediators of intercellular communication.
  • To highlight the potential of miRNAs in paracrine signaling within metabolic diseases and cancers.
  • To explore how understanding miRNA communication can advance disease pathogenesis insights and therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on miRNA stability and intercellular transfer.
  • Analysis of examples demonstrating miRNA paracrine signaling in disease contexts.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on miRNA function in recipient cells.

Main Results:

  • miRNAs are found in extracellular fluids and circulation, maintaining integrity.
  • Encapsulation in vesicles or association with proteins/lipoproteins enhances miRNA stability.
  • Uptake by recipient cells allows miRNAs to regulate target gene expression.

Conclusions:

  • miRNAs possess significant potential as paracrine signaling mediators.
  • Intercellular miRNA communication plays a role in metabolic diseases and cancers.
  • Further research into miRNA signaling mechanisms may reveal new therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
cancer microenvironmentcell–cell communicationextracellular vesiclesmetabolic disordersmiRNAs

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