Aqueous humor exosomal microRNAs as emerging biomarkers in HSV-1 anterior uveitis
- 1Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- 2Bristol Eye Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
- 3Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) anterior uveitis is a recurrent inflammatory disease in which aqueous humor (AH) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide virological confirmation but offers limited information on the molecular features of the intraocular environment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are constitutively present in the physiologically acellular AH and carry selectively packaged molecular cargo, including microRNAs (miRNAs), making them a relevant source of local biological information. This narrative review examines the rationale for investigating AH-derived EV-associated miRNAs in HSV-1 anterior uveitis by integrating evidence from ocular EV research, miRNA studies in uveitis and experimental models of HSV-1 infection. Studies in ocular disease have shown that AH-derived EVs can be isolated and molecularly characterized despite the small sample volumes available, while systemic and intraocular miRNA profiling has identified disease-associated signatures across several forms of uveitis. Experimental HSV-1 studies further demonstrate that both host- and virus-derived miRNAs regulate viral replication, latency and ocular immunopathology. In infectious uveitis, comprehensive AH miRNA profiling has already been shown to be technically feasible. To date, no study has directly characterized AH-derived EV-associated miRNAs in HSV-1 anterior uveitis. Their investigation is therefore supported by biological plausibility and indirect methodological evidence and may complement viral DNA detection by providing additional information on the local intraocular molecular environment.
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BibTeX
@article{saturno2026aqueous,
title = {{Aqueous humor exosomal microRNAs as emerging biomarkers in HSV-1 anterior uveitis}},
author = {Maria Carmela Saturno and Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos and Elena Carbone and Paola Piscopo and Oscar Matteo Gagliardi and Maurizio La Cava and Alessandro Lambiase and Danilo Iannetta},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1986644},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1986644},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Aqueous humor exosomal microRNAs as emerging biomarkers in HSV-1 anterior uveitis
AU - Maria Carmela Saturno
AU - Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos
AU - Elena Carbone
AU - Paola Piscopo
AU - Oscar Matteo Gagliardi
AU - Maurizio La Cava
AU - Alessandro Lambiase
AU - Danilo Iannetta
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1986644
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1986644
AB - Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) anterior uveitis is a recurrent inflammatory disease in which aqueous humor (AH) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can provide virological confirmation but offers limited information on the molecular features of the intraocular environment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are constitutively present in the physiologically acellular AH and carry selectively packaged molecular cargo, including microRNAs (miRNAs), making them a relevant source of local biological information. This narrative review examines the rationale for investigating AH-derived EV-associated miRNAs in HSV-1 anterior uveitis by integrating evidence from ocular EV research, miRNA studies in uveitis and experimental models of HSV-1 infection. Studies in ocular disease have shown that AH-derived EVs can be isolated and molecularly characterized despite the small sample volumes available, while systemic and intraocular miRNA profiling has identified disease-associated signatures across several forms of uveitis. Experimental HSV-1 studies further demonstrate that both host- and virus-derived miRNAs regulate viral replication, latency and ocular immunopathology. In infectious uveitis, comprehensive AH miRNA profiling has already been shown to be technically feasible. To date, no study has directly characterized AH-derived EV-associated miRNAs in HSV-1 anterior uveitis. Their investigation is therefore supported by biological plausibility and indirect methodological evidence and may complement viral DNA detection by providing additional information on the local intraocular molecular environment.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -