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Figure 4. Functional roles of PDEVs-delivered nucleic acids along the gut-liver axis. The schematic summarizes the proposed roles of PDEV-carried nucleic acids in intestinal and hepatic pathways associated with inflammatory and metabolic liver diseases. In the intestine, PDEVs-derived miRNAs and other RNAs may act on epithelial cells and immune cells, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production and supporting barrier function. PDEVs may also modulate the gut microbiota and reduce endotoxin exposure. In the liver, PDEVs-associated nucleic acids may influence Kupffer cell activity, hepatic lipid metabolism, and fibrotic signaling in stellate cells. These effects may contribute to protection against IBD, MASLD, and liver fibrosis. Created in BioRender. Ruting, C. (2026) https://BioRender.com/9iamk5c. ACC: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase; CD36: cluster of differentiation 36; EV: extracellular vesicle; FASN: fatty acid synthase; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IL-1β: interleukin-1 beta; IL-6: interleukin-6; IL-10: interleukin-10; IL-22: interleukin-22; MASLD: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; NLRP3: NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3; PDEVs: plant-derived extracellular vesicles; PPARα/γ: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha/gamma; SREBP-1c: sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha.