# Fecal exosomes as a source of miRNA biomarkers for diagnosing the degree of colitis and as a drug delivery system to reduce colitis

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $445,024

## Abstract

Summary
In addition to secreting soluble mediators, colonic epithelial cells also secrete exosomes (a type of nanovesicle)
that contain epigenetic material (proteins, transcription factors, RNAs, miRNAs and DNA fragments). Exosomes
are thought to be released basolaterally into the mucosa, where they may regulate local innate responses, and
apically, where they may functionally modulate cells at a distance along the gastrointestinal tract and regulate the
homeostasis of gut microbiota. In the proposed work, we will exclusively focus on the apical secretion of exosomes
into the lumen. Our preliminary results demonstrate that exosomes secreted into the lumen by colonic epithelial
cells transit along the gastrointestinal tract and are present in feces. Importantly, colonic and fecal exosomes are
similar in their sizes (~140 nm) and miRNA compositions, suggesting that exosomes protect the loaded epigenetic
material from highly destructive elements, such as the catabolic enzymes found in the gastrointestinal lumen. Our
central hypothesis is that fecal exosomes could yield new miRNA biomarker signatures that may be used to
diagnose the degree of colitis and as a drug delivery system to reduce colitis. Our first aim will be to examine the
effects of colitis on fecal exosomes, with the aim of identifying new miRNAs that may be used as an intestinal
biomarker signature that reflects disease severity. In Aim 2, we will examine whether the microbiota composition
can be modulated by the administration of various miRNA panels. In Aim 3, we will examine whether orally
administered autologous-healthy fecal exosomes, either alone or as a drug carrier, can reduce intestinal
inflammation. It is envisaged that the proposed experiments will facilitate the identification of new biomarkers
signatures for intestinal inflammation and allow the development of new therapeutic strategies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982320
- **Project number:** 5R01DK116306-04
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy L Denning
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $445,024
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982320

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982320, Fecal exosomes as a source of miRNA biomarkers for diagnosing the degree of colitis and as a drug delivery system to reduce colitis (5R01DK116306-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982320. Licensed CC0.

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