Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomal microRNA-19b-1-5p reduces proliferation and raises apoptosis of bladder cancer cells via targeting ABL2

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for management of prostate cancer: An updated view

Prostate cancer represents the second most prevalent form of cancer found in males, and stands as the fifth primary contributor to cancer-induced mortality on a global scale. Research has shown that transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can migrate by homing to tumor sites in the body. In prostate cancer, researchers have explored the fact that MSC-based therapies (including genetically modified delivery vehicles or vectors) and MSC-derived exosomes are emerging as attractive options to improve the efficacy and safety of traditional cancer therapies. In addition, researchers have reported new insights into the application of extracellular vesicle (EV)-MSC therapy as a novel treatment option that could provide a more effective and targeted approach to prostate cancer treatment. Moreover, the new generation of exosomes, which contain biologically functional molecules as signal transducers between cells, can simultaneously deliver different therapeutic agents and induce an anti-tumor phenotype in immune cells and their recruitment to the tumor site. The results of the current research on the use of MSCs in the treatment of prostate cancer may be helpful to researchers and clinicians working in this field. Nevertheless, it is crucial to emphasize that although dual-role MSCs show promise as a therapeutic modality for managing prostate cancer, further investigation is imperative to comprehensively grasp their safety and effectiveness. Ongoing clinical trials are being conducted to assess the viability of MSCs in the management of prostate cancer. The results of these trials will help determine the viability of this approach. Based on the current literature, engineered MSCs-EV offer great potential for application in targeted tumor therapy.

Construction of endothelial cell signatures for predicting the diagnosis, prognosis and immunotherapy response of bladder cancer via machine learning

We subtyped bladder cancer (BC) patients based on the expression patterns of endothelial cell (EC) -related genes and constructed a diagnostic signature and an endothelial cell prognostic index (ECPI), which are useful for diagnosing BC patients, predicting the prognosis of BC and evaluating drug sensitivity. Differentially expressed genes in ECs were obtained from the Tumour Immune Single-Cell Hub database. Subsequently, a diagnostic signature, a tumour subtyping system and an ECPI were constructed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. Associations between the ECPI and the tumour microenvironment, drug sensitivity and biofunctions were assessed. The hub genes in the ECPI were identified as drug candidates by molecular docking. Subtype identification indicated that high EC levels were associated with a worse prognosis and immunosuppressive effect. The diagnostic signature and ECPI were used to effectively diagnose BC and accurately assess the prognosis of BC and drug sensitivity among patients. Three hub genes in the ECPI were extracted, and the three genes had the closest affinity for doxorubicin and curcumin. There was a close relationship between EC and BC. EC-related genes can help clinicians diagnose BC, predict the prognosis of BC and select effective drugs.

Exosomes-Promising Carriers for Regulatory Therapy in Oncology

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, together with apoptotic bodies form a diverse group of nanoparticles that play a crucial role in intercellular communication, participate in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In the context of cancer, they can allow the transfer of bioactive molecules and genetic material between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells, thus promoting such processes as angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune evasion. In this article, we review recent advances in understanding how EVs, especially exosomes, influence tumor progression and modulation of the microenvironment. The key mechanisms include exosomes inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, polarizing macrophages toward protumoral phenotypes, and suppressing antitumor immunity. The therapeutic potential of engineered exosomes is highlighted, including their loading with drugs, RNA therapeutics, or tumor antigens to alter the tumor microenvironment. Current techniques for their isolation, characterization, and engineering are discussed. Ongoing challenges include improving exosome loading efficiency, optimizing biodistribution, and enhancing selective cell targeting. Overall, exosomes present promising opportunities to understand tumorigenesis and develop more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies by exploiting the natural intercellular communication networks in tumors. In the context of oncology, regulatory therapy provides the possibility of reproducing the original conditions that are unfavorable for the existence of the cancer process and may thus be a feasible alternative to population treatments. We also review current access to the technology enabling regulatory intervention in the cancer process using exosomes.

Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles in urological cancers: Prostate, bladder, and kidney

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recognized for their remarkable ability to differentiate into multiple cell types. They are also known to possess properties that can fight cancer, leading to attempts to modify MSCs for use in anticancer treatments. However, MSCs have also been found to participate in pathways that promote tumor growth. Many studies have been conducted to explore the potential of MSCs for clinical applications, but the results have been inconclusive, possibly due to the diverse nature of MSC populations. Furthermore, the conflicting roles of MSCs in inhibiting tumors and promoting tumor growth hinder their adaptation to anticancer therapies. Antitumorigenic and protumorigenic properties of MSCs in urological cancers such as bladder, prostate, and renal are not as well established, and data comparing them are still limited. MSCs hold significant promise as a vehicle for delivering anticancer agents and suicide genes to tumors. Presently, numerous studies have concentrated on the products derived from MSCs, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), as a form of cell-free therapy. This work aimed to review and discuss the current knowledge of MSCs and their EVs in urological cancer therapy.

Exosomal miR-192-5p secreted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and targets PPP2R3A

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BSMC)-derived extracellular vehicles (EVs) have a pivotal therapeutic potential in hepatic fibrosis (HF). Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the key mechanism in HF progression. Downregulation of miR-192-5p was previously observed in activated HSCs. Nonetheless, the functions of BSMC-derived exosomal miR-192-5p in activated HSCs remain unclear. In this study, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was used to activate HSC-T6 cells to mimic HF in vitro. Characterization of BMSCs and BMSC-derived EVs was performed. Cell-counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting revealed that TGF-β1 increased cell viability, promoted cell cycle progression, and induced upregulation of fibrosis markers in HSC-T6 cells. Overexpression of miR-192-5p or BMSC-derived exosomal miR-192-5p suppressed TGF-β1-triggered HSC-T6 cell activation. RT-qPCR revealed that protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B'' alpha (PPP2R3A) was downregulated in miR-192-5p-overexpressed HSC-T6 cells. Luciferase reporter assay was used for verifying the relation between miR-192-5p and PPP2R3A, which showed that miR-192-5p targeted PPP2R3A in activated HSC-T6 cells. Collectively, BMSC-derived exosomal miR-192-5p targets PPP2R3A and inhibits activation of HSC-T6 cells.

Roles of non-coding RNAs in the metabolism and pathogenesis of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is featured as the second most common malignancy of the urinary tract worldwide with few treatments leading to high incidence and mortality. It stayed a virtually intractable disease, and efforts to identify innovative and effective therapies are urgently needed. At present, more and more evidence shows the importance of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for disease-related study, diagnosis, and treatment of diverse types of malignancies. Recent evidence suggests that dysregulated functions of ncRNAs are closely associated with the pathogenesis of numerous cancers including BC. The detailed mechanisms underlying the dysregulated role of ncRNAs in cancer progression are still not fully understood. This review mainly summarizes recent findings on regulatory mechanisms of the ncRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs, in cancer progression or suppression and focuses on the predictive values of ncRNAs-related signatures in BC clinical outcomes. A deeper understanding of the ncRNA interactive network could be compelling framework for developing biomarker-guided clinical trials.

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell-derived exosomes and genitourinary cancers: A mini review

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell- (MSC-) derived exosomes are gaining popularity for their involvement in tissue repair and repressing various tumors through extensive patterns. Nevertheless, the impact of extracellular vesicles produced by stem cells on tumor formation and progression is controversial and seems to depend on several factors. The utilization of MSCs' various capabilities in urogenital neoplasms is widely regarded as a potential future therapeutic as well. These genitourinary neoplasms include prostatic neoplasms, ovarian neoplasms, cervical neoplasms, endometrial neoplasms, bladder neoplasms, and renal cell neoplasms. The present study has concentrated on the most recent information on genitourinary neoplasms employing MSCs derived exosomes' many capabilities, such as delivering effective RNAs, extensive tissue compatibility, and specificity with tumor identification without inherent limitations of cell therapy.

BMSC-derived exosomal lncRNA PTENP1 suppresses the malignant phenotypes of bladder cancer by upregulating SCARA5 expression

LncRNAs can be transported to tumor cells where they exert regulatory effects by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)-derived exosomes. Here, we aimed to investigate the functional mechanism of BMSC-derived exosomal lncRNA PTENP1 in the progression of bladder cancer (BC). Methods of BMSC were identified by detecting surface markers through flow cytometry. Exosomes from BMSC were identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blot analysis of exosome markers. Cellular internalization of BMSC-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exo) into BC cells was detected by confocal microscopy. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays were adopted to estimate cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion abilities, respectively. Interplay between miR-17 and lncRNA PTENP1 or SCARA5 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull down, and/or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Tumor xenograft assay was conducted in nude mice to study the role of exosomal lncRNA PTENP1 in BC progression in vivo. We showed exosomal lncRNA PTENP1 can be delivered into and suppress the malignant phenotypes of BC cells. LncRNA PTENP1 was identified as a sponge of miR-17, and SCARA5 was identified as a target gene of miR-17. The exosomes derived from PTENP1-overexpressing BMSC (BMSC^OE-PTENP1-Exo) abolished the promotive effects of miR-17 overexpression or SCARA5 knockdown on the malignant phenotypes of BC cells. Moreover, exosomal lncRNA PTENP1 was demonstrated to inhibit BC tumor growth in nude mice by miR-17/SCARA5 axis. In conclusion, BMSC-derived exosomal PTENP1 suppressed the BC progression by upregulating the expression of SCARA5 via sponging miR-17, offering a potential novel therapeutic target for BC therapy.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Inhibit Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Stemness and Metastasis via an ALKBH5-Dependent Mechanism

BACKGROUND

Abnormal N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification caused by m6A regulators is a common characteristic in various tumors. However, little is known about the role of m6A regulator AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study, we analyzed the influence of ALKBH5 on the stemness of TNBC and the molecular mechanism using bioinformatics analysis and in vivo animal experiments.

METHODS

RNA expression data and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. Following intersection analysis, key genes involved in the TNBC cell stemness were determined, which was followed by functional enrichment analysis, PPI and survival analysis. Exosomes were extracted from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC-Exos) where ALKBH5 inhibition assay was conducted to verify their function in the biological characteristics of TNBC cells.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis revealed 45 key genes of ALKBH5 regulating TNBC cell stemness. In addition, UBE2C was predicted as a key downstream gene and p53 was predicted as a downstream signaling of ALKBH5. In vivo data confirmed that ALKBH5 upregulated UBE2C expression by regulating the m6A modification of UBE2C and reduced p53 expression, thus promoting the stemness, growth and metastasis of TNBC cells. BMSC-Exos suppressed the tumor stemness, growth and metastasis of TNBC cells and ALKBH5 shRNA-loaded BMSC-Exos showed a more significant suppressive role.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our findings indicated that ALKBH5 shRNA-loaded BMSC-Exos reduced TNBC cell stemness, growth and metastasis and define a promising strategy to treat TNBC.

Roles of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Development and Targeted Therapy

Exosomes have emerged as a new drug delivery system. In particular, exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied because of their tumor-homing ability and yield advantages. Considering that MSC-derived exosomes are a double-edged sword in the development, metastasis, and invasion of tumors, engineered exosomes have broad potential use. In this review, we focused on the latest development in the treatment of tumors using engineered and nonengineered MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-EXs). Nonengineered MSC-EXs exert an antitumor effect on several well-studied tumors by affecting tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion. Furthermore, engineered exosomes have promising research prospects as drug-carrying tools for the transport of miRNAs, small-molecule drugs, and proteins. Although exosomes lack uniform standards in terms of definition, separation, and purification, they still have great research value because of their unique advantages, such as high biocompatibility and low toxicity. Future studies on MSC-EXs should elucidate the mechanisms underlying their anticancer effect and the safety of their application.