Abstract
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), especially transported by extracellular vesicles (EVs), have recently emerged as major new participants in interorgan communication, playing an important role in the metabolic coordination of our tissues. Among these, adipose tissue displays an extraordinary ability to secrete a vast list of EV-carried miRNAs into the circulation, representing new hormone-like factors. Despite the limitations of current methodologies for the unequivocal identification of the origin and destination of EV-carried miRNAs in vivo, recent investigations clearly support the important regulatory role of adipose-derived circulating miRNAs in shaping the metabolism and function of other tissues including the liver, muscle, endocrine pancreas, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, and brain. Here, we review the most recent findings regarding miRNAs transported by adipose-derived EVs (AdEVs) targeting other major metabolic organs and the implications of this dialog for physiology and pathology. We also review here the current and potential future diagnostic and therapeutic applications of AdEV-carried miRNAs.