MicroRNA and Exosome in Retinal-related Diseases: Their Roles in the Pathogenesis and Diagnosis

The precise and exquisite architecture of the retina is directly related to vision. Therefore, any mechanisms associated with disruption of retinal structure could affect the quality of vision. A large number of studies indicated that several cellular and molecular processes are involved in retina pathogenesis. Among different risk factors reported as important players in retina diseases, deregulation of epigenetic contributors has critical roles in the pathogenesis of these diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of small non-coding RNAs that are involved in various signaling pathways involved in retina diseases. These molecules exert their function by targeting a sequence of cellular and molecular signals. Long-non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs are other non-coding RNAs, which can exert their regulatory roles via miRNA sponging. In this regard, it has been showed that miRNA sponging could modulate a variety of pathways in retinal diseases. Besides miRNAs, exosomes are other players in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases. Exosomes are biological vectors that could carry their cargos to recipient cells. The cargos of exosomes (i.e., proteins, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and fragments of DNA) change behaviors of host cells. Here, we summarized the roles of miRNAs, miRNAs sponging and exosomes in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases.