Cao Y, Li PF, Zhu L, Li K, He KJ. Non-coding RNA in extracellular vesicles and the occurrence and progression of psychiatric disorders: A narrative review. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(2): 113037 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113037]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Kuan-Jun He, PhD, Professor, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, No. 996 Xilamulun Street, Keerqin District, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. hekuanjun@imun.edu.cn
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Psychiatry
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Feb 19, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 2, 2026
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World Journal of Psychiatry
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2220-3206
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Cao Y, Li PF, Zhu L, Li K, He KJ. Non-coding RNA in extracellular vesicles and the occurrence and progression of psychiatric disorders: A narrative review. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(2): 113037 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113037]
World J Psychiatry. Feb 19, 2026; 16(2): 113037 Published online Feb 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.113037
Non-coding RNA in extracellular vesicles and the occurrence and progression of psychiatric disorders: A narrative review
Yang Cao, Peng-Fei Li, Lin Zhu, Ke Li, Kuan-Jun He
Yang Cao, Lin Zhu, Ke Li, Kuan-Jun He, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Peng-Fei Li, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Co-first authors: Yang Cao and Peng-Fei Li.
Author contributions: Cao Y and Li PF made equal contributions as co-first authors; He KJ is responsible for the study design, revising and updating the initial draft of the manuscript; Cao Y, Li PF, Zhu L, and Li K authored the initial draft; Cao Y was responsible for using the software to draw and chart; all authors contributed to editing, and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2024 LHMS08003; and Science and Technology Program of the Joint Fund of Scientific Research for the Public Hospitals of Inner Mongolia Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 2024GLLH0844.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Kuan-Jun He, PhD, Professor, College of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, No. 996 Xilamulun Street, Keerqin District, Tongliao 028000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. hekuanjun@imun.edu.cn
Received: August 13, 2025 Revised: October 9, 2025 Accepted: November 6, 2025 Published online: February 19, 2026 Processing time: 170 Days and 5.4 Hours
Abstract
As the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in psychiatric disorders gains increasing prominence, attention has shifted to their dysregulated expression in these conditions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes, play a crucial role as key mediators of cellular communication within the brain and between peripheral tissues. Their influence on neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal stress responses underscores their significance in psychopathophysiology. Due to their stability, disease-specific expression, and functional roles, EV-encapsulated ncRNAs have emerged as highly promising biomarkers. This review systematically explores the interactions between EV-derived ncRNAs and psychiatric disorders, evaluating their diagnostic potential and therapeutic applications in the field of psychiatry.
Core Tip: Non-coding RNAs encapsulated within extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and are involved in key processes such as neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal stress responses, making them promising biomarkers for diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions. Their stability and disease-specific expression further enhance their potential in advancing psychiatric research and therapeutic strategies.
