title: Emerging role of exosomes in liver physiology and pathology.
abstract: Exosomes can mediate intercellular communication by conveying various bioactive molecules. Plentiful evidence suggests that exosomes are involved in many liver diseases including hepatitis C virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and alcoholic liver disease. Moreover, exosomes are present in nearly all human body fluids. Therefore, exosomal miRNA or proteins have the potential to be novel biomarkers of liver diseases. In the treatment of liver diseases, exosomes could participate in adaptive immune response and mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy. Exosomes can also be used as vehicles for genetic materials and drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.|Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (ILD-AMU), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Shuangpeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.|Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (ILD-AMU), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.|Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (ILD-AMU), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Xueyin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.|Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University (ILD-AMU), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: biomarkers; exosomes; liver pathology; liver physiology; therapeutics