Extracellular Vesicle RNA: A Universal Mediator of Microbial Communication?. Issue 5 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsatsaronis, James A.; Franch-Arroyo, Sandra; Resch, Ulrike; Charpentier, Emmanuelle
• Is Part Of: Trends in microbiology. Volume 26:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 410
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: extracellular vesicles -- RNA -- TLR -- OMV -- gene silencing; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Virulence (Microbiology) -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Virulence -- Periodicals; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Infection -- Périodiques; Virulence (Microbiologie) -- Périodiques; Infection; Microbiology; Virulence (Microbiology); 579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.02.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-842X

Abstract

Abstract : Both extracellular RNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently garnered attention as novel mediators of intercellular communication in eukaryotes and prokaryotes alike. EVs not only permit export of RNA, but also facilitate delivery and trans-kingdom exchange of these and other biomolecules, for instance between microbes and their hosts. In this Opinion article, we propose that EV-mediated export of RNA represents a universal mechanism for interkingdom and intrakingdom communication that is conserved among bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic microbes. We speculate how microbes might use EV RNA to influence target cell gene expression or manipulate host immune responses. Highlights: Multiple lines of evidence point to EVs as universal carriers of extracellular RNA from bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protists. Microbial EV RNAs are often enriched in small, noncoding RNAs with stable secondary structures that may influence their packaging in EVs or their function in target cells. Microbial EV RNAs can enter the cytoplasm of target cells to influence gene expression. The EV RNA cargo likely contributes to the diverse immunomodulatory activities of microbial EVs by sequence-specific silencing of target genes and by activating innate immune receptors in host cells. Microbial mRNAs are considered signals of microbial viability (vita-PAMPs), and can be transported by EVs.