Regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment by cancer-derived circular RNAs

Liping Guan; Qian Hao; Fenfen Shi; Bo Gao; Mengxin Wang; Xiang Zhou; Tao Han; Wenjie Ren

doi:10.1038/s41419-023-05647-w

Regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment by cancer-derived circular RNAs

Cell Death Dis. 2023 Feb 16;14(2):132. doi: 10.1038/s41419-023-05647-w.

Authors

Liping Guan^#^{1

2}, Qian Hao^#^{3

4}, Fenfen Shi¹, Bo Gao^{3

4}, Mengxin Wang^{1

2}, Xiang Zhou^{5

6

7

8}, Tao Han⁹, Wenjie Ren¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
² Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
³ Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
⁴ Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
⁵ Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. xiangzhou@fudan.edu.cn.
⁶ Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. xiangzhou@fudan.edu.cn.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. xiangzhou@fudan.edu.cn.
⁸ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. xiangzhou@fudan.edu.cn.
⁹ Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China. doubleyingtao@gmail.com.
¹⁰ Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China. wjren1966@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Circular RNA (circRNAs) is a covalently closed circular non-coding RNA formed by reverse back-splicing from precursor messenger RNA. It is found widely in eukaryotic cells and can be released to the surrounding environment and captured by other cell types. This, circRNAs serve as connections between different cell types for the mediation of multiple signaling pathways. CircRNAs reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME), a key factor involved in all stages of cancer development, by regulating epithelial-stromal transformation, tumor vascularization, immune cell function, and inflammatory responses. Immune cells are the most abundant cellular TME components, and they have profound toxicity to cancer cells. This review summarizes circRNA regulation of immune cells, including T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages; highlights the impact of circRNAs on tumor progression, treatment, and prognosis; and indicates new targets for tumor immunotherapy.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms* / genetics
RNA / genetics
RNA Precursors
RNA, Circular* / genetics
RNA, Messenger / genetics
Tumor Microenvironment / genetics

Substances

RNA, Circular
RNA
RNA, Messenger
RNA Precursors