Characterization of the MicroRNA Profile of Ginger Exosome-like Nanoparticles and Their Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Intestinal Caco-2 Cells

: Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) have been shown to enter mammalian cells for disease treatment. Although abundant miRNAs are contained in ginger exosome-like nanoparticles (GELNs), little is known about their type and function. Herein, we extracted GELNs with desirable particle sizes (156 +/- 36 nm) and a negative surface charge (-26.6 +/- 5 mV). The miRNA profiles in ginger and GELNs were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing, and the results of the sequencing were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). There were 27 miRNAs with higher expression levels in the GELNs, and they were mainly involved in the regulation of inflammatory and cancer-related pathways. Furthermore, GELNs could be specifically internalized by intestine cells via caveolin-mediated endocytosis and micropinocytosis, as well as counteract lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation by downregulating NF-Kappa beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha expression. Importantly, the positive effects were further proved to be possibly related to the miRNAs enriched in the GELNs. Overall, these results indicated that PELNs could target human digestive organs and play a cross-kingdom physiological regulation role through miRNAs