Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Mechanisms of MicroRNA Loading into Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Progression
Published on: October 6, 2023
Differential Expression of microRNAs and Target Genes Analysis in Olfactory Ensheathing Cell-derived Extracellular
Yubing Yang1, Jiaxi Li1, Weidong Liu1
1Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.
Introduction:
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are important transplantable cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury. However, information on the mechanism of OEC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in nerve repair is scarce.
Methods:
We cultured OECs and extracted the OEC-derived EVs, which were identified using a transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle flow cytometry, and western blotting. High throughput RNA sequencing of OECs and OEC-EVs was performed, and the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) (DERs) were analyzed by bioinformatics. The target genes of DERs were identified using miRWalk, miRDB, miRTarBase, and TargetScan databases. Gene ontology and KEGG mapper tools were used to analyze the predicted target genes. Subsequently, the STRING database and Cytoscape software platform were used to analyze and construct miRNA target genes' protein-protein interaction (PPI) network.
Results:
Overall, 206 miRNAs (105 upregulated and 101 downregulated) were differentially expressed in OEC-EVs (p < 0.05;|log2 (fold change)|>2). Six DERs (rno-miR-7a-5p, rno-miR-143-3p, rno-miR-182, rno-miR-214-3p, rno-miR-434-5p, rno-miR-543-3p) were significantly up-regulated , and a total of 974 miRNAs target genes were obtained. The target genes were mainly involved in biological processes such as regulation of cell size, positive regulation of cellular catabolic process and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction; positive regulation of genes involved in cellular components such as growth cone, site of polarized growth, and distal axon; and molecular functions such as small GTPase binding and Ras GTPase binding. In pathway analysis, target genes regulated by six DERs were mainly enriched in axon guidance, endocytosis, and Ras and cGMP-dependent protein kinase G signaling pathways. Finally, 19 hub genes were identified via the PPI network.
Conclusion:
Our study provides a theoretical basis for treating nerve repair by OEC-derived EVs.
More Related Videos
10:09Characterization of Immune Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles and Studying Functional Impact on Cell Environment
Published on: June 2, 2020
07:55Harnessing the Power of MicroRNA Cargoes in Small Extracellular Vesicles Released from Fresh-Frozen Human Brain Sections
Published on: November 8, 2024