Exosomal microRNA remodels the tumor microenvironment

Xiaoli Jiang; Song Hu; Qiang Liu; Caiyun Qian; Zhuoqi Liu; Daya Luo

doi:10.7717/peerj.4196

Exosomal microRNA remodels the tumor microenvironment

PeerJ. 2017 Dec 22:5:e4196. doi: 10.7717/peerj.4196. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Xiaoli Jiang^#¹, Song Hu^#², Qiang Liu³, Caiyun Qian¹, Zhuoqi Liu¹, Daya Luo^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
² Queen Mary School, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
³ First Clinical Medical College, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathogens and Molecular Pathology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Tumor occurrence, progression and metastasis depend on the crosstalk between tumor cells and stromal cells and on extrinsic factors outside the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal microRNA (miRNA) not only is involved in communications within the tumor microenvironment but also mediates communications between the extrinsic environment and tumor microenvironment. However, most reviews have been limited to the role of endogenous exosomal miRNA in remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Hence, we herein review the role of endogenous exosomal miRNA in mediating intercellular crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment, inducing the formation of the premetastatic niche. To place our vision outside the microenvironment, we also summarize for the first time the most recent studies regarding how exogenous miRNA derived from milk, plants and microbes influences the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, to improve the value of exosomal miRNA in cancer research and clinical applications, we also provide some novel ideas for future research based on the comprehensive role of exosomal miRNA in remodeling the tumor microenvironment.

Keywords: Endogenous; Exogenous; Exosome; Tumor microenvironment; microRNA.

Grants and funding

This work was sponsored by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81160248 and 81560464 (Daya Luo) and No. 81360313 (Zhuoqi Liu); the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, No. 20151BAB205058 (Daya Luo) and No. 20171BAB205055 (Zhuoqi Liu); and the Scientific Research Foundation of Jiangxi Province Education Department, No. GJJ160103 (Zhuoqi Liu). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.