Exosomal long noncoding RNAs in aging and age-related diseases

Molecules secreted by cells into the internal environment during aging, including those secreted in exosomes, have long been a matter of concern. Those cells that absorb exosomes, also known as recipient cells, exhibit certain phenotypic changes because of the regulatory role of functional molecules (including proteins and nucleic acids) released in exosomes. Involvement of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the regulation of aging has received increasing attention, and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) have become one of the research hotspots in recent years. LncRNAs carried by exosomes play a role in intercellular communication between adjacent and distant cells. Moreover, exosomal lncRNAs promote the decline of organ functions and the development of age-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Here, we review the regulatory roles of exosomal lncRNAs in aging and age-related diseases.