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Mechanobiology

The Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium: Establishing Foundational Knowledge and Technologies for Extracellular RNA Research

AUTHORS

Das SSaumya , , Ansel KMK Mark , Bitzer MMarkus , Breakefield XOXandra O , Charest AAlain , Galas DJDavid J , Gerstein MBMark B , Gupta MMihir , Milosavljevic AAleksandar , McManus MTMichael T , Patel TTushar , Raffai RLRobert L , Rozowsky JJoel , Roth MEMatthew E , Saugstad JAJulie A , Van Keuren-Jensen KKendall , Weaver AMAlissa M , Laurent LCLouise C . Cell. 2019 4 4; 177(2). 231-242

ABSTRACT

The Extracellular RNA Communication Consortium (ERCC) was launched to accelerate progress in the new field of extracellular RNA (exRNA) biology and to establish whether exRNAs and their carriers, including extracellular vesicles (EVs), can mediate intercellular communication and be utilized for clinical applications. Phase 1 of the ERCC focused on exRNA/EV biogenesis and function, discovery of exRNA biomarkers, development of exRNA/EV-based therapeutics, and construction of a robust set of reference exRNA profiles for a variety of biofluids. Here, we present progress by ERCC investigators in these areas, and we discuss collaborative projects directed at development of robust methods for EV/exRNA isolation and analysis and tools for sharing and computational analysis of exRNA profiling data.