The effect of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes on the prostate, bladder, and renal cancer cell lines

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as Drug Delivery Vehicles in Disease Therapy

Exosomes are small vesicles containing proteins, nucleic acids, and biological lipids, which are responsible for intercellular communication. Studies have shown that exosomes can be utilized as effective drug delivery vehicles to accurately deliver therapeutic substances to target tissues, enhancing therapeutic effects and reducing side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a class of stem cells widely used for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and immunotherapy. Exosomes derived from MSCs have special immunomodulatory functions, low immunogenicity, the ability to penetrate tumor tissues, and high yield, which are expected to be engineered into efficient drug delivery systems. Despite the promising promise of MSC-derived exosomes, exploring their optimal preparation methods, drug-loading modalities, and therapeutic potential remains challenging. Therefore, this article reviews the related characteristics, preparation methods, application, and potential risks of MSC-derived exosomes as drug delivery systems in order to find potential therapeutic breakthroughs.

Different origin-derived exosomes and their clinical advantages in cancer therapy

Exosomes, as a class of small extracellular vesicles closely related to the biological behavior of various types of tumors, are currently attracting research attention in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Regarding cancer diagnosis, the stability of their membrane structure and their wide distribution in body fluids render exosomes promising biomarkers. It is expected that exosome-based liquid biopsy will become an important tool for tumor diagnosis in the future. For cancer treatment, exosomes, as the "golden communicators" between cells, can be designed to deliver different drugs, aiming to achieve low-toxicity and low-immunogenicity targeted delivery. Signaling pathways related to exosome contents can also be used for safer and more effective immunotherapy against tumors. Exosomes are derived from a wide range of sources, and exhibit different biological characteristics as well as clinical application advantages in different cancer therapies. In this review, we analyzed the main sources of exosomes that have great potential and broad prospects in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Moreover, we compared their therapeutic advantages, providing new ideas for the clinical application of exosomes.

Tissue-derived extracellular vesicles in cancer progression: mechanisms, roles, and potential applications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles that mediate vital cellular communication by transferring cargo between cells. Among these, tissue-derived extracellular vesicles (Ti-EVs) stand out due to their origin from the tissue microenvironment, providing a more accurate reflection of changes in this setting. This unique advantage makes Ti-EVs valuable in investigating the intricate relationship between extracellular vesicles and cancer progression. Despite considerable research efforts exploring the association between Ti-EVs and cancers, a comprehensive clustering or grouping of these studies remains lacking. In this review, we aim to fill this gap by presenting a comprehensive synthesis of the mechanisms underlying Ti-EV generation, release, and transport within cancer tissues. Moreover, we delve into the pivotal roles that Ti-EVs play in cancer progression, shedding light on their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The review culminates in the construction of a comprehensive functional spectrum of Ti-EVs, providing a valuable reference for future research endeavors. By summarizing the current state of knowledge on Ti-EVs and their significance in tumor biology, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of cancer microenvironment dynamics and opens up avenues for harnessing Ti-EVs in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Kidney Cancer and Potential Use of Urinary Extracellular Vesicles

Kidney cancer is the 14th most common cancer globally. The 5-year relative survival rate of kidney cancer at a localized stage is 92.9% and it declines to 17.4% in metastatic stage. Currently, the most accurate method of its diagnosis is tissue biopsy. However, the invasive and costly nature of biopsies makes it undesirable in many patients. Therefore, novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis should be explored. Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) are small vesicles (50-200 nm) in urine carrying nucleic acids, proteins and lipids as their cargos. These uEVs' cargos can provide non-invasive alternative to monitor kidney health. In this review, we have summarized recent studies investigating potential use of uEVs' cargos as biomarkers in kidney cancer for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic intervention.

Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles in cancer invasion and metastasis: molecular mechanisms, and clinical significance

The production and release of tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (TDSEVs) from cancerous cells play a pivotal role in the propagation of cancer, through genetic and biological communication with healthy cells. TDSEVs are known to orchestrate the invasion-metastasis cascade via diverse pathways. Regulation of early metastasis processes, pre-metastatic niche formation, immune system regulation, angiogenesis initiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, immune modulation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are among the pathways regulated by TDSEVs. MicroRNAs (miRs) carried within TDSEVs play a pivotal role as a double-edged sword and can either promote metastasis or inhibit cancer progression. TDSEVs can serve as excellent markers for early detection of tumors, and tumor metastases. From a therapeutic point of view, the risk of cancer metastasis may be reduced by limiting the production of TDSEVs from tumor cells. On the other hand, TDSEVs represent a promising approach for in vivo delivery of therapeutic cargo to tumor cells. The present review article discusses the recent developments and the current views of TDSEVs in the field of cancer research and clinical applications.

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.

Regulation of Interferon-β-Modified Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Proliferation and Apoptosis of Prostate Cancer Cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a serious burden to men. Interferon-β (IFN-β) is implicated in cancer cell growth. This study hence explored the regulation of IFN-β-modified human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUCMSC-Exos) in PCa cells. In vitro-cultured hUCMSCs were transfected with pcDNA3.1-IFN-β plasmid or IFN-β siRNA. hUCMSC-Exos were extracted by ultracentrifugation and identified. PCa cells (PC3 and LNCap) were treated with Exos. Cellular internalization of Exos by cells was detected by uptake assay. Cell proliferation, cycle, and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8, EdU staining, and flow cytometry. Levels of cell cycle-related proteins (cyclin D/cyclin E) were determined by Western blot. The effect of IFN-β-modified hUCMSC-Exos in vivo was analyzed. IFN-β-modified hUCMSC-Exos (Exooe-IFN-β or Exosi-IFN-β) were successfully isolated. IFN-β was encapsulated in Exos, and PCa cells could uptake Exos. After treating with Exooe-IFN-β, PCa cell proliferation was impeded, the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase, cyclin D/cyclin E levels, and cell apoptotic rate were elevated, while cells treated with Exooe-IFN-β exhibited contrary trends. IFN-β-modified hUCMSC-Exos reduced PCa tumor size and weight in vivo. Conjointly, IFN-β-modified hUCMSC-Exos suppress PCa cell proliferation and facilitate apoptosis.

The developing role of extracellular vesicles in autoimmune diseases: special attention to mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles

Autoimmune diseases are complex, chronic inflammatory conditions initiated by the loss of immunological tolerance to self-antigens. Nowadays, there is no effective and useful therapy for autoimmune diseases, and the existing medications have some limitations due to their nonspecific targets and side effects. During the last few decades, it has been established that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory functions. It is proposed that MSCs can exert an important therapeutic effect on autoimmune disorders. In parallel with these findings, several investigations have shown that MSCs alleviate autoimmune diseases. Intriguingly, the results of studies have demonstrated that the effective roles of MSCs in autoimmune diseases do not depend on direct intercellular communication but on their ability to release a wide spectrum of paracrine mediators such as growth factors, cytokines and extracellular vehicles (EVs). EVs that range from 50 to 5,000 nm were produced by almost any cell type, and these nanoparticles participate in homeostasis and intercellular communication via the transfer of a broad range of biomolecules such as modulatory proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), lipids, cytokines, and metabolites. EVs derived from MSCs display the exact properties of MSCs and can be safer and more beneficial than their parent cells. In this review, we will discuss the features of MSCs and their EVs, EVs biogenesis, and their cargos, and then we will highlight the existing discoveries on the impacts of EVs from MSCs on autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis rheumatic, inflammatory bowel disease, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune liver diseases, Sjögren syndrome, and osteoarthritis, suggesting a potential alternative for autoimmune conditions therapy.

The Bladder Tumor Microenvironment Components That Modulate the Tumor and Impact Therapy

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and involves many different cell types that seemingly work together in helping cancer cells evade immune monitoring and survive therapy. The advent of single-cell sequencing has greatly increased our knowledge of the cell types present in the tumor microenvironment and their role in the developing cancer. This, coupled with clinical data showing that cancer development and the response to therapy may be influenced by drugs that indirectly influence the tumor environment, highlights the need to better understand how the cells present in the TME work together. This review looks at the different cell types (cancer cells, cancer stem cells, endothelial cells, pericytes, adipose cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and neuronal cells) in the bladder tumor microenvironment. Their impact on immune activation and on shaping the microenvironment are discussed as well as the effects of hypertensive drugs and anesthetics on bladder cancer.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles Suppress Glioblastoma Proliferation, Invasiveness and Angiogenesis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are attractive anticancer drug delivery candidates as they confer several fundamental properties, such as low immunogenicity and the ability to cross biological barriers. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are convenient producers for high EV yields, and patient-derived adipose tissue MSC-EVs could serve as personalised carriers. However, MSC-EV applications raise critical concerns as their natural cargo can affect tumour progression in both inducing and suppressing ways. In this study, we investigated the effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell EVs (ASC-EVs) on several glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines to define their applicability for anticancer therapies. ASC-EVs were isolated from a cell-conditioned medium and characterised by size and specific markers. The internalisation of fluorescently labelled ASC-EVs by human GBM cells HROG36, U87 MG, and T98G was evaluated by fluorescent microscopy. Changes in GBM cell proliferation after ASC-EV application were determined by the metabolic PrestoBlue assay. Expression alterations in genes responsible for cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. ASC-EV effects on tumour invasiveness and neoangiogenesis in ovo were analysed on the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model (CAM). ASC-EV treatment reduced GBM proliferation in vitro and significantly downregulated invasiveness-related genes ITGα5 (in T98G and HROG63) and ITGβ3 (in HROG36) and the vascularisation-inducing gene KDR (in all GBM lines). Additionally, an approximate 65% reduction in the GBM invasion rate was observed in CAM after ASC-EV treatment. Our study indicates that ASC-EVs possess antitumour properties, reducing GBM cell proliferation and invasiveness, and can be applied as anticancer therapeutics and medicine carriers.

The Large Molecular Weight Polysaccharide from Wild Cordyceps and Its Antitumor Activity on H22 Tumor-Bearing Mice

Cordyceps has anti-cancer effects; however, the bioactive substance and its effect are still unclear. Polysaccharides extracted from Cordyceps sinensis, the fugus of Cordyceps, have been reported to have anti-cancer properties. Thus, we speculated that polysaccharides might be the key anti-tumor active ingredients of Cordyceps because of their larger molecular weight than that of polysaccharides in Cordyceps sinensis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of wild Cordyceps polysaccharides on H22 liver cancer and the underlying mechanism. The structural characteristics of the polysaccharides of WCP were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance gel-permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, H22 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice were used to explore the anti-tumor effect of WCP (100 and 300 mg/kg/d). The mechanism by WCP inhibited H22 tumors was uncovered by the TUNEL assay, flow cytometry, hematoxylin-eosin staining, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. Here, our results showed that WCP presented high purity with an average molecular weight of 2.1 × 10⁶ Da and 2.19 × 10⁴ Da. WCP was determined to be composed of mannose, glucose, and galactose. Notably, WCP could inhibit the proliferation of H22 tumors not only by improving immune function, but also by promoting the apoptosis of tumor cells, likely through the IL-10/STAT3/Bcl2 and Cyto-c/Caspase8/3 signaling pathways, in H22 tumor-bearing mice. Particularly, WCP had essentially no side effects compared to 5-FU, a common drug used in the treatment of liver cancer. In conclusion, WCP could be a potential anti-tumor product with strong regulatory effects in H22 liver cancer.

HP1α promotes the progression of prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) typically have a dismal outlook and few therapeutic choices available to them, because the precise pathogenesis of the disease is not yet fully understood. The presence of HP1α, also known as the heterochromatin protein 1α, is required for the creation of higher-order chromatin structures. However, little is known about HP1α that serves roles in the pathogenesis of PCa. The primary purpose of our research was to investigate alterations in the levels of HP1α expression and to plan a series of tests to validate the function of HP1α in PCa.

METHOD

Information on HP1α expression in PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues were gathered using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to assess HP1α mRNA and protein expression in several human PCa tissues and cell lines. The CCK8 assay, clone formation assay, and transwell assay were used to examine biological activities including cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The expression of proteins connected to apoptosis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined using Western blot. The tumorigenic effect of HP1α was also verified by in vivo experiments.

RESULT

HP1α expression was much higher in PCa than in BPH tissues and cells, and was positively correlated with the Gleason score of PCa. In vitro experiments showed that HP1α knockdown could inhibit the ability of proliferation, invasion, and migration of PC3 and LNCaP cells, and promote cell apoptosis and EMT. In vivo experiments showed that HP1α knockdown inhibited tumorigenesis in mice.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that HP1α expression promotes PCa development and might be a novel therapeutic target for the diagnosis or treatment of PCa.

Regulatory mechanism of DHRS2-modified human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes in prostate cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality. DHRS2-modified human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes (hUC-MSCs-derived exos) function in PCa. We explored the mechanism of DHRS2-modified hUC-MSCs-derived exos in PCa cell malignant behaviors. DHRS2 expression levels in WPMY-1 cells and 4 PCa cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. 22Rv1/DU145 cells with high/low DHRS2 expression were selected to establish the low/high DHRS2 expression models by transfection. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8, colony formation assays, and flow cytometry. hUC-MSCs were identified by oil red O, alizarin staining, and flow cytometry. Exos were extracted from hUC-MSCs by ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy, Nano series-Nano-ZS, and Western blot. DU145 cells were selected for in vitro study to further study the effects of DHRS2-modified exos on cell proliferation and apoptosis. The effect of DHRS2-modified exos on cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. DHRS2 was repressed in PCa cells. DHRS2 overexpression suppressed PCa cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Exos were successfully isolated from hUC-MSC. DHRS2-modified hUC-MSCs-derived exos carried DHRS2 into PCa cells and blocked malignant behaviors. Briefly, DHRS2 was repressed in PCa cells. DHRS2-modified hUC-MSCs-derived exos blocked PCa cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis.