Characterization of plasma exosomal microRNAs in responding to radiotherapy of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Nan Miao; Wenjie Cai; Sijia Ding; Yajuan Liu; Wanhua Chen; Tao Sun

doi:10.3892/mmr.2022.12803

Characterization of plasma exosomal microRNAs in responding to radiotherapy of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Mol Med Rep. 2022 Sep;26(3):287. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2022.12803. Epub 2022 Jul 27.

Authors

Nan Miao¹, Wenjie Cai², Sijia Ding¹, Yajuan Liu¹, Wanhua Chen³, Tao Sun¹

Affiliations

¹ Center for Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, P.R. China.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, P.R. China.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, P.R. China.

Abstract

Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment methods for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previous research has shown that plasma exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) can predict therapeutic outcome. In the present study, to identify potential exosomal miRNAs that respond to radiotherapy, plasma exosomal miRNAs from ESCC patients undergoing radiotherapy were isolated and sequenced. Upregulated and downregulated miRNAs were detected from patients pre‑ and post‑radiotherapy, and it was found that they play distinct roles in DNA damage process and endosomal mediated transport. Based on wound healing and Cell Counting Kit‑8 assays in TE‑1 human esophageal cancer cells, it was identified that representative miRNA miR‑652 and miR‑30a alter migration but not proliferation. The present findings identified differentially expressed miRNAs in responding to radiotherapy, and added a reference to explore non‑invasive plasma biomarkers to evaluate therapeutic effects in ESCC.

Keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; exosome; miRNAs; radiotherapy.

MeSH terms

Esophageal Neoplasms* / genetics
Esophageal Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / genetics
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / pathology
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / radiotherapy
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Humans
MicroRNAs* / genetics

Substances

MIRN30a microRNA, human
MIRN652 microRNA, human
MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. ZQN-1020), the Scientific Research Funds of Huaqiao University (grant nos. 16BS815, 19BS303 and Z16Y0017), the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian, China (grant nos. 2019J01071 and 605-52519051), the Innovation Awards of Quanzhou Talents (grant no. 2018C057R), Quanzhou City Science & Technology Program of China (grant no. 2018C057R) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 31771141 and 32100775).