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Hang Y, Huang J, Ding M, Shen Y, Zhou Y, Cai W. Extracellular vesicles reshape the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer immunotherapy: Current knowledge and future prospects. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 140:112820. [PMID: 39096874 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but limitations remain, including low response rates and immune complications. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as a new class of therapeutic agents for various diseases. Recent research shows that changes in the amount and composition of EVs can reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME), potentially improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This exciting discovery has sparked clinical interest in using EVs to enhance the immune system's response to cancer. In this Review, we delve into the world of EVs, exploring their origins, how they're generated, and their complex interactions within the TME. We also discuss the crucial role EVs play in reshaping the TME during tumor development. Specifically, we examine how their cargo, including molecules like PD-1 and non-coding RNA, influences the behavior of key immune cells within the TME. Additionally, we explore the current applications of EVs in various cancer therapies, the latest advancements in engineering EVs for improved immunotherapy, and the challenges faced in translating this research into clinical practice. By gaining a deeper understanding of how EVs impact the TME, we can potentially uncover new therapeutic vulnerabilities and significantly enhance the effectiveness of existing cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hang
- Baoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - JingYi Huang
- Baoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingming Ding
- Baoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanhua Shen
- Baoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - YaoZhong Zhou
- Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu, China.
| | - Wan Cai
- Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Turner NP. Playing pin-the-tail-on-the-protein in extracellular vesicle (EV) proteomics. Proteomics 2024:e2400074. [PMID: 38899939 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202400074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are anucleate particles enclosed by a lipid bilayer that are released from cells via exocytosis or direct budding from the plasma membrane. They contain an array of important molecular cargo such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, and can transfer these cargoes to recipient cells as a means of intercellular communication. One of the overarching paradigms in the field of EV research is that EV cargo should reflect the biological state of the cell of origin. The true relationship or extent of this correlation is confounded by many factors, including the numerous ways one can isolate or enrich EVs, overlap in the biophysical properties of different classes of EVs, and analytical limitations. This presents a challenge to research aimed at detecting low-abundant EV-encapsulated nucleic acids or proteins in biofluids for biomarker research and underpins technical obstacles in the confident assessment of the proteomic landscape of EVs that may be affected by sample-type specific or disease-associated proteoforms. Improving our understanding of EV biogenesis, cargo loading, and developments in top-down proteomics may guide us towards advanced approaches for selective EV and molecular cargo enrichment, which could aid EV diagnostics and therapeutics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie P Turner
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia
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3
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Boudna M, Machackova T, Vychytilova-Faltejskova P, Trachtova K, Bartosova R, Catela Ivkovic T, Al Tukmachi D, Jugas R, Pifkova L, Orlickova J, Kotoucek J, Pavlikova M, Sachlova M, Bohovicova L, Stanek T, Halamkova J, Kiss I, Grolich T, Svoboda M, Kala Z, Souckova K, Slaby O. Investigation of long non-coding RNAs in extracellular vesicles from low-volume blood serum specimens of colorectal cancer patients. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:67. [PMID: 38568288 PMCID: PMC10991038 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01323-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent cancer type worldwide, which highlights the urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers for its early detection and improved prognosis. We aimed to investigate the patterns of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) collected from low-volume blood serum specimens of CRC patients, focusing on their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Our research comprised two phases: an initial exploratory phase involving RNA sequencing of sEVs from 76 CRC patients and 29 healthy controls, and a subsequent validation phase with a larger cohort of 159 CRC patients and 138 healthy controls. Techniques such as dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting were utilized for sEV characterization. Optimized protocol for sEV purification, RNA isolation and preamplification was applied to successfully sequence the RNA content of sEVs and validate the results by RT-qPCR. We successfully isolated sEVs from blood serum and prepared sequencing libraries from a low amount of RNA. High-throughput sequencing identified differential levels of 460 transcripts between CRC patients and healthy controls, including mRNAs, lncRNAs, and pseudogenes, with approximately 20% being lncRNAs, highlighting several tumor-specific lncRNAs that have not been associated with CRC development and progression. The validation phase confirmed the upregulation of three lncRNAs (NALT1, AL096828, and LINC01637) in blood serum of CRC patients. This study not only identified lncRNA profiles in a population of sEVs from low-volume blood serum specimens of CRC patients but also highlights the value of innovative techniques in biomolecular research, particularly for the detection and analysis of low-abundance biomolecules in clinical samples. The identification of specific lncRNAs associated with CRC provides a foundation for future research into their functional roles in cancer development and potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Boudna
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tana Machackova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Vychytilova-Faltejskova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karolina Trachtova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Bartosova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tina Catela Ivkovic
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Al Tukmachi
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Robin Jugas
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Pifkova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Orlickova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kotoucek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Pavlikova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Milana Sachlova
- Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Bohovicova
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Teodor Stanek
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Halamkova
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Kiss
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Grolich
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno Bohunice, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Svoboda
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno Bohunice, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Kala
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno Bohunice, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamila Souckova
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondrej Slaby
- Centre for Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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4
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Nemeth K, Bayraktar R, Ferracin M, Calin GA. Non-coding RNAs in disease: from mechanisms to therapeutics. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:211-232. [PMID: 37968332 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00662-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group of transcripts that, by definition, are not translated into proteins. Since their discovery, ncRNAs have emerged as important regulators of multiple biological functions across a range of cell types and tissues, and their dysregulation has been implicated in disease. Notably, much research has focused on the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and human cancers, although other ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are also emerging as relevant contributors to human disease. In this Review, we summarize our current understanding of the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in cancer and other major human diseases, notably cardiovascular, neurological and infectious diseases. Further, we discuss the potential use of ncRNAs as biomarkers of disease and as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Nemeth
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Recep Bayraktar
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - George A Calin
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- The RNA Interference and Non-coding RNA Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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5
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Yue M, Hu S, Sun H, Tuo B, Jia B, Chen C, Wang W, Liu J, Liu Y, Sun Z, Hu J. Extracellular vesicles remodel tumor environment for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:203. [PMID: 38087360 PMCID: PMC10717809 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01898-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has transformed neoplastic disease management, yet low response rates and immune complications persist as major challenges. Extracellular vesicles including exosomes have emerged as therapeutic agents actively involved in a diverse range of pathological conditions. Mounting evidence suggests that alterations in the quantity and composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to the remodeling of the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby influencing the efficacy of immunotherapy. This revelation has sparked clinical interest in utilizing EVs for immune sensitization. In this perspective article, we present a comprehensive overview of the origins, generation, and interplay among various components of EVs within the TME. Furthermore, we discuss the pivotal role of EVs in reshaping the TME during tumorigenesis and their specific cargo, such as PD-1 and non-coding RNA, which influence the phenotypes of critical immune cells within the TME. Additionally, we summarize the applications of EVs in different anti-tumor therapies, the latest advancements in engineering EVs for cancer immunotherapy, and the challenges encountered in clinical translation. In light of these findings, we advocate for a broader understanding of the impact of EVs on the TME, as this will unveil overlooked therapeutic vulnerabilities and potentially enhance the efficacy of existing cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yue
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Shengyun Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Haifeng Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Baojing Tuo
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Bin Jia
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Wenkang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Jinbo Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Henan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- Henan Institute of Interconnected Intelligent Health Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Junhong Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
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6
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Zayakin P, Sadovska L, Eglītis K, Romanchikova N, Radoviča-Spalviņa I, Endzeliņš E, Liepniece-Karele I, Eglītis J, Linē A. Extracellular Vesicles-A Source of RNA Biomarkers for the Detection of Breast Cancer in Liquid Biopsies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4329. [PMID: 37686605 PMCID: PMC10487078 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising source of cancer-derived RNAs for liquid biopsies. However, blood contains a pool of heterogeneous EVs released by a variety of cell types, making the identification of cancer RNA biomarkers challenging. Here, we performed deep sequencing of plasma EV RNA cargo in 32 patients with locally advanced breast cancer (BC) at diagnosis and 7 days after breast surgery and in 30 cancer-free healthy controls (HCs). To identify BC-derived RNA biomarkers, we searched for RNAs that had higher levels in BC EVs at the time of diagnosis compared with HCs and decreased after surgery. Data analysis showed that the fractions of miRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs, and tRFs were increased, but the fraction of lncRNAs was decreased in BC EVs as compared to HCs. BC-derived biomarker candidates were identified across various RNA biotypes. Considered individually, they had very high specificity but moderate sensitivity for the detection of BC, whereas a biomarker model composed of eight RNAs: SNORD3H, SNORD1C, SNORA74D, miR-224-5p, piR-32949, lnc-IFT-122-2, lnc-C9orf50-4, and lnc-FAM122C-3 was able to distinguish BC from HC EVs with an AUC of 0.902 (95% CI = 0.872-0.931, p = 3.4 × 10-9) in leave-one-out cross-validation. Furthermore, a number of RNA biomarkers were correlated with the ER and HER2 expression and additional biomarker models were created to predict hormone receptor and HER2 status. Overall, this study demonstrated that the RNA composition of plasma EVs is altered in BC patients and that they contain cancer-derived RNA biomarkers that can be used for BC detection and monitoring using liquid biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Zayakin
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, k-1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (P.Z.); (L.S.); (N.R.); (E.E.)
| | - Lilite Sadovska
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, k-1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (P.Z.); (L.S.); (N.R.); (E.E.)
| | - Kristaps Eglītis
- Latvian Oncology Center, Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, LV-1038 Riga, Latvia; (K.E.)
| | - Nadezhda Romanchikova
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, k-1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (P.Z.); (L.S.); (N.R.); (E.E.)
| | | | - Edgars Endzeliņš
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, k-1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (P.Z.); (L.S.); (N.R.); (E.E.)
| | | | - Jānis Eglītis
- Latvian Oncology Center, Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, LV-1038 Riga, Latvia; (K.E.)
| | - Aija Linē
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, k-1, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (P.Z.); (L.S.); (N.R.); (E.E.)
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