Amolegbe Sara M, Johnston Nicolas C, Ambrosi Angela, Ganguly Aniruddha, Howcroft T Kevin, Kuo Lillian S, Labosky Patricia A, Rudnicki Dobrila D, Satterlee John S, Tagle Danilo A, Happel Christine
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
J Extracell Vesicles. 2025 Jan;14(1):e70016. doi: 10.1002/jev2.70016.
The discovery that extracellular RNAs (exRNA) can act as endocrine signalling molecules established a novel paradigm in intercellular communication. ExRNAs can be transported, both locally and systemically in virtually all body fluids. In association with an array of carrier vehicles of varying complexity, exRNA can alter target cell phenotype. This highlights the important role secreted exRNAs have in regulating human health and disease. The NIH Common Fund exRNA Communication program was established in 2012 to accelerate and catalyze progress in the exRNA biology field. The program addressed both exRNA and exRNA carriers, and served to generate foundational knowledge for the field from basic exRNA biology to future potential clinical applications as biomarkers and therapeutics. To address scientific challenges, the exRNA Communication program developed novel tools and technologies to isolate exRNA carriers and analyze their cargo. Here, we discuss the outcomes of the NIH Common Fund exRNA Communication program, as well as the evolution of exRNA as a scientific field through the analysis of scientific publications and NIH funding. ExRNA and associated carriers have potential clinical use as biomarkers, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Recent translational applications include exRNA-related technologies repurposed as novel diagnostics in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical use of extracellular vesicle-based biomarker assays, and exRNA carriers as drug delivery platforms. This comprehensive landscape analysis illustrates how discoveries and innovations in exRNA biology are being translated both into the commercial market and the clinic. Analysis of program outcomes and NIH funding trends demonstrate the impact of this NIH Common Fund program.
细胞外RNA（exRNA）可作为内分泌信号分子这一发现，确立了细胞间通讯的新范式。exRNA几乎能在所有体液中进行局部和全身运输。与一系列复杂程度各异的载体相结合，exRNA能够改变靶细胞表型。这凸显了分泌型exRNA在调节人类健康和疾病方面的重要作用。美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）共同基金exRNA通讯项目于2012年设立，旨在加速并推动exRNA生物学领域的进展。该项目涵盖了exRNA及其载体，并致力于从基础exRNA生物学领域到作为生物标志物和治疗手段的未来潜在临床应用等方面，为该领域生成基础知识。为应对科学挑战，exRNA通讯项目开发了新型工具和技术，用于分离exRNA载体并分析其携带的物质。在此，我们通过分析科学出版物和NIH的资助情况，来探讨NIH共同基金exRNA通讯项目的成果，以及exRNA作为一个科学领域的发展历程。exRNA及其相关载体作为生物标志物、诊断工具和治疗手段具有潜在的临床应用价值。近期的转化应用包括，为应对新冠疫情，将exRNA相关技术重新用作新型诊断方法；基于细胞外囊泡的生物标志物检测方法的临床应用；以及将exRNA载体用作药物递送平台。这一全面的态势分析说明了exRNA生物学领域的发现和创新是如何转化到商业市场和临床应用中的。对项目成果和NIH资助趋势的分析，证明了这一NIH共同基金项目所产生的影响。
