Exosomal Non-coding RNAs-Mediated Crosstalk in the Tumor Microenvironment

Qi Chen; Yuefeng Li; Yueqin Liu; Wenlin Xu; Xiaolan Zhu

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.646864

Exosomal Non-coding RNAs-Mediated Crosstalk in the Tumor Microenvironment

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Apr 12:9:646864. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.646864. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Qi Chen^{1

2}, Yuefeng Li³, Yueqin Liu¹, Wenlin Xu¹, Xiaolan Zhu^{1

4

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology and Central Laboratory, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
² International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
³ Affiliated People Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
⁴ Reproduction Medicine Center, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.

Abstract

Exosomes are secreted by different types of cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and participate in multiple biological processes of tumors. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) enveloped in exosomes and released to the TME are shown to be involved in tumorigenesis and development, as well as act as important intracellular communication mediators. However, the understanding on the exact regulatory functions and substrates of exosomal RNA is still at an early stage. In this review, we provided an overview on recent studies on exosomes mediating the modulation of both tumor cells and immune cells, then summarized the exosomal ncRNAs [such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs)] secreted by tumor cells and stromal cells that exhibited potential capabilities to regulate tumor cell growth, progression, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune response. Our review may hopefully inspire a deeper understanding on the ncRNAs' function as useful biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and as novel targets therapy for cancer.

Keywords: biological function; cancer; exosomes; non-coding RNAs; stromal cells.

Publication types

Review