Emerging Roles of Skeletal Muscle-Derived Exosomal miRNAs in Metabolic Regulation: A Perspective

Skeletal muscle (SKM) is now recognized not only for its classical functions but also as a secretory organ. It communicates with other tissues through myokines and extracellular vesicles, such as exosomes. Among these components, microRNAs (miRNAs) are particularly notable due to their stability, evolutionary conservation, and ability to potently regulate gene expression. Growing evidence suggests that these exosomal miRNAs act as important mediators of inter-organ communication in both glucose and lipid metabolism. Exosomal miRNAs derived from senescent SKMs drive systemic metabolic dysregulation by targeting critical signaling pathways in insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. Consequently, SKM-derived exosomal miRNAs have emerged as a promising new class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.