Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 50–300 nm vesicles secreted by eukaryotic cells. They can carry cargo (including miRNA) from the donor cell to the recipient cell. miRNAs in EVs can change the translational profile of the recipient cell and modulate cellular morphology. This endogenous mechanism has attracted the attention of the drug-delivery community in the last few years. EVs can be enriched with exogenous therapeutic miRNAs and used for treatment of diseases by targeting pathological recipient cells. However, there are some obstacles that need to be addressed before introducing therapeutic miRNA-enriched EVs in clinics. Here, we focused on the progress in the field of therapeutic miRNA enriched EVs, highlighted important areas where research is needed, and discussed the potential to use them as therapeutic miRNA carriers in the future.

Exosomes are membrane-bound organelles generally secreted by eukaryotic cells that contain mRNAs, microRNAs, and/or proteins. However, recent studies have reported the isolation of these particles from foods such as lemon, ginger, and milk. Owing to their absorption by intestinal cells and further travel via the bloodstream, exosomes can reach distant organs and affect overall health in both infants and adults. The potential role of food-derived exosomes (FDEs) in alleviating diseases, as well as in modulating the gut microbiota has been shown, but the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Moreover, exosomes may provide biocompatible vehicles for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs, such as doxorubicin. Thus, exosomes may allow medical nutritionists and clinicians to develop safe and targeted therapies for the treatment of various pathologies. The present review introduces FDEs and their contents, highlights their role in disease and infant/adult health, and explores their potential use as therapeutic agents.

Thyroid cancer is the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. Notwithstanding advancements in the prognosis and treatment of thyroid cancer, 10–20% of thyroid cancer patients develops chemotherapeutic resistance and experience relapse. According to previous reports and TCGA database, MUC15 (MUCIN 15) upregulation is highly correlated with thyroid cancer progression. However, the role of MUC15 in tumor progression and metastasis is unclear. This study aimed to investigate factors mediating cancer stemness in thyroid cancer. MUC15 plays an important role in sphere formation, as an evident from the expression of stemness markers including SOX2, KLF4, ALDH1A3, and IL6. Furthermore, ectopic expression of MUC15 activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling via G-protein–coupled receptor (GPCR)/cyclic AMP (cAMP) and integrin/focal adhesion kinase pathways. Interestingly, ectopic expression of MUC15 did not affect RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-mediated ERK activation. The present findings may provide novel insights into the development of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications of MUC15 in thyroid cancer.

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