Exosomal Long Non-Coding RNA: Interaction Between Cancer Cells and Non-Cancer Cells

Shenqi Han; Yongqiang Qi; Yiming Luo; Xiaoping Chen; Huifang Liang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.617837

Exosomal Long Non-Coding RNA: Interaction Between Cancer Cells and Non-Cancer Cells

Front Oncol. 2021 Jan 14:10:617837. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.617837. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Shenqi Han^{1

2}, Yongqiang Qi^{1

2}, Yiming Luo^{1

2}, Xiaoping Chen^{1

2

3}, Huifang Liang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
² Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Exosomes are small membranous vesicles released by many kinds of cells, and are indispensable in cell-to-cell communication by delivering functional biological components both locally and systemically. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are long transcripts over 200 nucleotides that exhibit no or limited protein-coding potentials. LncRNAs are dramatic gene expression regulators, and can be selectively sorted into exosomes. Exosomal lncRNAs derived from cancer cells and stromal cells can mediate the generation of pre-metastatic niches (PMNs) and thus promote the progression of cancer. In this review, we summarized the fundamental biology and characteristics of exosomal lncRNAs. Besides, we provided an overview of current research on functions of exosomal lncRNAs between cancer cells and non-cancer cells. A deep understanding of exosomal lncRNAs' role in cancer will be facilitated to find important implications for cancer development and treatment.

Keywords: cancer; exosome; extracellular vesicle; long non-coding RNA; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review