2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (31): 5062-5068

Biological role of exosomes in denervated muscle atrophy

Ye Hua1, Yang Jiaming1, Zhang Jiahong2, Niu Yanlong1, 3, Wang Maoyuan1, 2, 3   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injury is very common in clinic, but its regeneration rate is very slow. During nerve recovery, muscle atrophy has already occurred irreversibly, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is particularly important to find an effective method for the treatment of denervated muscle atrophy.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the biological characteristics of exosomes and their mechanisms of involvement in skeletal muscle formation and atrophy, focus on the process of denervated muscle atrophy and the role of exosomes in the treatment of denervated muscle atrophy, providing a new method for the treatment of denervated muscle atrophy.
METHODS: Relevant articles were searched on PubMed database with English search words “exosome, skeletal muscle, muscle atrophy, muscle regenerate, peripheral nerve injury, denervation muscle atrophy”. Related articles were searched on Wanfang and CNKI databases, and the Chinese search words were “exosome, skeletal muscle, peripheral nerve injury, muscle atrophy, muscle regeneration, nerve repair, denervated muscle atrophy”, and some articles were searched with literature retrospective method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Exosomes are widely distributed in all kinds of body fluids. They act on recipient cells through paracrine or autocrine and affect the phenotype of recipient cells. (2) The main function of exosomes in muscle may be related to the delivery of RNA. Exosomal miRNAs secreted or ingested by muscle cells are involved in muscle development, growth, adaptation and regeneration. (3) After peripheral nerve injury, muscle loses its motor control and nutritional support, and then apoptosis and proteolysis increase, leading to muscle atrophy. (4) Exosomes from different cell sources repair injured nerves directly or indirectly, thereby alleviating muscle atrophy. It has been preliminarily confirmed that exosomes may also mediate the expression regulation of related regenerative genes in a miRNA-dependent manner to promote neural regeneration. Therefore, exosomes can act on nerve cells and delay denervated muscle atrophy.  
Key words: exosome, peripheral nerve injury, denervated muscle atrophy, skeletal muscle regeneration, review