title: The role of exosomes in hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Exosomes are small vesicles that were initially thought to be a mechanism for discarding unneeded membrane proteins from reticulocytes. Their mediation of intercellular communication appears to be associated with several biological functions. Current studies have shown that most mammalian cells undergo the process of exosome formation and utilize exosome-mediated cell communication. Exosomes contain various microRNAs, mRNAs and proteins. They have been reported to mediate multiple functions, such as antigen presentation, immune escape and tumour progression. This concise review highlights the findings regarding the roles of exosomes in liver diseases, particularly hepatitis B, hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, further elucidation of the contributions of exosomes to intercellular information transmission is needed. The potential medical applications of exosomes in liver diseases seem practical and will depend on the ingenuity of future investigators and their insights into exosome-mediated biological processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Chiung-Kuei
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuelong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zheyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiujun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
keywords: 
  HBV
  ; 
  HCV
  ; exosome; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver cirrhosis