Tumour-derived exosomal lncRNA SNHG16 induces telocytes to promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via the miR-942-3p/MMP9 axis

Telocytes: current methods of research, challenges and future perspectives

Telocytes (TCs) are CD34-positive interstitial cells that have long cytoplasmic projections, called telopodes; they have been identified in several organs and in various species. These cells establish a complex communication network between different stromal and epithelial cell types, and there is growing evidence that they play a key role in physiology and pathology. In many tissues, TC network impairment has been implicated in the onset and progression of pathological conditions, which makes the study of TCs of great interest for the development of novel therapies. In this review, we summarise the main methods involved in the characterisation of these cells as well as their inherent difficulties and then discuss the functional assays that are used to uncover the role of TCs in normal and pathological conditions, from the most traditional to the most recent. Furthermore, we provide future perspectives in the study of TCs, especially regarding the establishment of more precise markers, commercial lineages and means for drug delivery and genetic editing that directly target TCs.

HOXD3 promotes the migration and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma via modifying hepatocellular carcinoma cells exosome-delivered CCR6 and regulating chromatin conformation of CCL20

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in the microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HOXD3 is involved in the metastasis and invasion of HCC cells; Whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms in the microenvironment of HCC remain unknown. Wound healing, transwell invasion, tube formation and spheroid sprouting assays were carried out to identify the effects of HCC-HOXD3-exosomes and genes on the migration of HCC cells. ChIP-PCR was applied to test the binding region of HOXD3 on CCR6, Med15, and CREBBP promoter. Exosome isolation and mRNA-seq were applied to examine the morphological characteristics of exosomes and the contained mRNA in exosomes. Co-IP and Immunofluorescence assays were used to demonstrate the role of CREBBP in the chromatin conformation of CCL20. The nude mice were used to identify the function of genes in regulating migration of HCC in vivo. In this study, integrated cellular and bioinformatic analyses revealed that HOXD3 targeted the promoter region of CCR6 and induced its transcription. CCR6 was delivered by exosomes to endothelial cells and promoted tumour migration. Overexpression of CCR6 promoted metastasis, invasion in HCCs and angiogenesis in endothelial cells (ECs), whereas its downregulation suppressed these functions. The role of HOXD3 in the metastasis and invasion of HCC cells was reversed after the suppression of CCR6. Furthermore, CCL20 was demonstrated as the ligand of CCR6, and its high expression was found in HCC tissues and cells, which was clinically associated with the poor prognosis of HCC. Mechanistically, HOXD3 targets the promoter regions of CREBBP and Med15, which affect CCL20 chromatin conformation by regulating histone acetylation and expression of Pol II to enhance the migration of HCCs. This study demonstrated the function of the HOXD3-CREBBP/Med15-CCL20-CCR6 axis in regulating invasion and migration in HCC, thus providing new therapeutic targets for HCC.

Nanotherapeutic approaches for delivery of long non-coding RNAs: an updated review with emphasis on cancer

The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a wide range of RNA species whose length exceeds 200 nucleotides, which regulate the expression of genes and cellular functions in a wide range of organisms. Several diseases, including malignancy, have been associated with lncRNA dysregulation. Due to their functions in cancer development and progression, lncRNAs have emerged as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Several studies have investigated the anti-cancer properties of lncRNAs; however, only a few lncRNAs have been found to exhibit tumor suppressor properties. Furthermore, their length and poor stability make them difficult to synthesize. Thus, to overcome the instability of lncRNAs, poor specificity, and their off-target effects, researchers have constructed nanocarriers that encapsulate lncRNAs. Recently, translational medicine research has focused on delivering lncRNAs into tumor cells, including cancer cells, through nano-drug delivery systems in vivo. The developed nanocarriers can protect, target, and release lncRNAs under controlled conditions without appreciable adverse effects. To deliver lncRNAs to cancer cells, various nanocarriers, such as exosomes, microbubbles, polymer nanoparticles, 1,2-dioleyl-3-trimethylammoniumpropane chloride nanocarriers, and virus-like particles, have been successfully developed. Despite this, every nanocarrier has its own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to delivering nucleic acids effectively and safely. This article examines the current status of nanocarriers for lncRNA delivery in cancer therapy, focusing on their potential to enhance cancer treatment.

Long Non-coding RNA 02298 Promotes the Malignancy of HCC by Targeting the miR-28-5p/CCDC6 Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy characterized by a high fatality rate. Increasing evidence indicating that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a regulatory role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among them, the correlation between LINC02298 and HCC remains unknown. The expression and subcellular localization of LINC02298 in HCC tissues and cell lines were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Furthermore, the correlation between the expression of LINC02298 and clinicopathological features of HCC patients was analyzed. The regulatory effects of LINC02298 in HCC were investigated using colony formation, cell count Kit-8(CCK8), Transwell, EDU, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis. In addition, the expression of EMT-related proteins were detected by western blotting. Dual-luciferase reporter, RT-qPCR and rescue assays were employed to validate the involvement of the LINC02298/miR-28-5p/CCDC6 axis in the progression of HCC. The up-regulation of LINC02298 was observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cells, and it was found to be correlated with a negative prognosis in patients with HCC. Overexpression of LINC02298 enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, and induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) while suppressing apoptosis in HCC cells. LINC02298 bind to miR-28-5p to regulate the expression of CCDC6. Inhibition of miR-28-5p saved the inhibitory effect of shLINC02298, and knockdown of CCDC6 also saved the inhibitory effect of miR-28-5p on HCC in vitro and in vivo. LINC02298 regulates the expression of CCDC6 by sponging of miR-28-5p, thereby facilitating the the malignancy and EMT of HCC.

The role of extracellular vesicles in circulating tumor cell-mediated distant metastasis

Current research has demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are very closely related in the process of distant tumor metastasis. Primary tumors are shed and released into the bloodstream to form CTCs that are referred to as seeds to colonize and grow in soil-like distant target organs, while EVs of tumor and nontumor origin act as fertilizers in the process of tumor metastasis. There is no previous text that provides a comprehensive review of the role of EVs on CTCs during tumor metastasis. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanisms of EVs on CTCs during tumor metastasis, including the ability of EVs to enhance the shedding of CTCs, protect CTCs in circulation and determine the direction of CTC metastasis, thus affecting the distant metastasis of tumors.

Unveiling the functional paradigm of exosome-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer: based on a narrative review and systematic review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The intricate mechanisms underlying intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment remain largely elusive. Recently, attention has shifted towards exploring the intercellular signaling mediated by exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) within this context. This comprehensive systematic review aims to elucidate the functional paradigm of exosome-derived lncRNAs in cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The review provides a comprehensive narrative of lncRNA definition, characteristics, as well as the formation, sorting, and uptake processes of exosome-derived lncRNAs. Additionally, it describes comprehensive technology for exosome research and nucleic acid drug loading. This review further systematically examines the cellular origins, functional roles, and underlying mechanisms of exosome-derived lncRNAs in recipient cells within the cancer setting.

RESULTS

The functional paradigm of exosome-derived lncRNAs in cancer mainly depends on the source cells and sorting mechanism of exosomal lncRNAs, the recipient cells and uptake mechanisms of exosomal lncRNAs, and the specific molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in recipient cells. The source cells of exosomal lncRNAs mainly involved in the current review included tumor cells, cancer stem cells, normal cells, macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

This synthesis of knowledge offers valuable insights for accurately identifying exosomal lncRNAs with potential as tumor biomarkers. Moreover, it aids in the selection of appropriate targeting strategies and preclinical models, thereby facilitating the clinical translation of exosomal lncRNAs as promising therapeutic targets against cancer. Through a comprehensive understanding of the functional role of exosome-derived lncRNAs in cancer, this review paves the way for advancements in personalized medicine and improved treatment outcomes.

Construction of a Novel Cuproptosis-Related ceRNA Network-SNHG3/miR-1306-5p/PDHA1 and Identification of SNHG3 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The crucial role of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in the malignant biological behavior of tumors has been certificated. Nevertheless, the detailed function and molecular mechanism of ceRNA associated with cuproptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains dismal. In this study, we first constructed a protein-protein interaction network and identified the module with the highest degree of aggregation degree. DLAT and PDHA1 were screened out of the module after differential expression and survival analysis. Next, we reverse-predicted the upstream miRNA and lncRNA from mRNA (DLAT, PDHA1) and successfully established the ceRNA network-SNHG3/miR-1306-5p/PDHA1. SNHG3 was identified to be an independent prognostic biomarker based on the outcome of univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Subsequently, we implemented methylation, immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity analysis to investigate the potential biological functions of SNHG3 in HCC. In addition, SNHG3 expression was upregulated in liver cancer cell lines. In vitro functional assay revealed that SNHG3 knockdown significantly attenuated proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer cells. In summary, SNHG3 exhibited oncogenic characterization via sponging miR-1306-5p to regulate PDHA1, which might function as a promising prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for HCC and shed new light on the molecular mechanism of HCC progression.

The role of lncRNAs and exosomal lncRNAs in cancer metastasis

Tumor metastasis is the main reason for cancer-related death, but there is still a lack of effective therapeutic to inhibit tumor metastasis. Therefore, the discovery and study of new tumor metastasis regulators is a prominent measure for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of non-coding RNAs over 200 bp in length. It has been shown that the abnormally expressed lncRNAs promote tumor metastasis by participating in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, altering the metastatic tumor microenvironment, or changing the extracellular matrix. It is,thus, critical to explore the regulation of lncRNAs expression in cells and the molecular mechanism of lncRNA-mediated cancer metastasis. Simultaneously, it has been shown that lncRNA is one kind of the main components of exosomes, which protects lncRNAs from being rapidly degraded. Meanwhile, the components of exosomes are parent-specific, making exosomal lncRNAs to be potential tumor metastasis markers and therapeutic targets. In view of this, we also summarized the aberrant enrichment of lncRNAs in exosomes and their role in metastatic cancer. The aberrant lncRNAs and exosomal lncRNAs gradually become biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tumor metastatic, and the potential of lncRNAs in therapeutics are studied here. Besides, the lncRNA-related databases, which could greatly facilitate in the study of lncRNAs and exosomal lncRNAs in metastatic of cancer are included in this review.

Lactobacillus brevis alleviates the progress of hepatocellular carcinoma and type 2 diabetes in mice model via interplay of gut microflora, bile acid and NOTCH 1 signaling

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) clinically exhibits a higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), contributing to a lousy prognosis in patients harboring both diseases. Microflora-based therapy draws attention with low side effects. Accumulating evidence shows that Lactobacillus brevis can improve blood glucose and body weight of the T2DM mice model and reduce several cancer incidences. However, the therapeutic effect of Lactobacillus brevis in affecting the prognosis of T2DM+HCC remains unknown. In this study, we aim to explore this question via an established T2DM+HCC mice model. We observed a significant alleviation after the probiotic intervention. Lactobacillus brevis improves blood glucose and insulin resistance and ameliorates Mechanically. Combined with a multi-omics approach including 16SrDNA, GC-MS, and RNA-seq, we identified distinct intestinal microflora composition and metabolites after Lactobacillus brevis intervention. Furthermore, we found that Lactobacillus brevis delayed disease progression by regulating MMP9 and NOTCH 1 signaling pathways, potentially through gut microflora and BA interaction. This study indicates that Lactobacillus brevis may improve the prognosis of T2DM + HCC, providing novel therapeutic opportunities via targeting intestinal flora for patients with T2DM+HCC.