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Biondi A, Vacante M, Catania R, Sangiorgio G. Extracellular Vesicles and Immune System Function: Exploring Novel Approaches to Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1473. [PMID: 39062046 PMCID: PMC11275211 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071473] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review explores the emerging role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in modulating immune system function and their application in novel cancer immunotherapy strategies, with a focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). EVs, as carriers of bioactive molecules, have shown potential in enhancing immune responses and overcoming the limitations of traditional therapies. We discuss the biogenesis, types, and functional roles of immune cell-derived EVs, their interactions with cancer cells, and their implications in antitumor immunity. Challenges such as tumor heterogeneity and immune evasion are addressed, alongside the promising therapeutic prospects of EV-based strategies. This comprehensive analysis underscores the transformative potential of EVs in cancer treatment paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Biondi
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Marco Vacante
- Unit of Internal Medicine Critical Area—ARNAS Garibaldi, Piazza Santa Maria di Gesù, 5, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Roberta Catania
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Sangiorgio
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy; (A.B.); (R.C.)
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Wu J, Mei X, Zhan X, Liu F, Liu D. Proximity hybridization based "turn-on" DNA tweezers for accurate and enzyme-free small extracellular vesicle analysis. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024. [PMID: 38699853 DOI: 10.1039/d4ay00487f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are a type of extracellular vesicle that carries many types of molecular information. The identification of sEVs is essential for the non-invasive detection and treatment of illnesses. Hence, there is a significant need for the development of simple, sensitive, and precise methods for sEV detection. Herein, a DNA tweezers-based assay utilizing a "turn-on" mechanism and proximity ligation was suggested for the efficient and rapid detection of sEVs through amplified fluorescence. The target facilitates the proximity combination of the C1 probe and C2 probe, resulting in the formation of a complete extended sequence. The elongated sequence can cyclically initiate the hairpin probe (HP), leading to the activation of DNA tweezers. An excellent linear correlation was achieved, with a limit of detection of 57 particles per μL. Furthermore, it has been effectively employed to analyze sEVs under intricate experimental conditions, demonstrating a promising and pragmatic prospect for future applications. Given that the identification of sEVs was successfully accomplished using a single-step method that exhibited exceptional sensitivity and strong resistance to interference, the proposed technique has the potential to provide a beneficial platform for accurate recognition of sEVs and early detection of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlin Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China.
- Department of Endocrinology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Xi Mei
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China.
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610500, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zhan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Dongfang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, No. 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Wu J, Wang X, Li Z, Yi X, Hu D, Wang Q, Zhong T. Small extracellular vesicles promote the formation of the pre-metastatic niche through multiple mechanisms in colorectal cancer. Cell Cycle 2024; 23:131-149. [PMID: 38341861 PMCID: PMC11037293 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2024.2311501] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent global malignancies, posing significant threats to human life and health due to its high recurrence and metastatic potential. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released by CRC play a pivotal role in the formation of the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) through various mechanisms, preparing the groundwork for accelerated metastatic invasion. This review systematically describes how sEVs promote CRC metastasis by upregulating inflammatory factors, promoting immunosuppression, enhancing angiogenesis and vascular permeability, promoting lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic network remodeling, determining organophilicity, promoting stromal cell activation and remodeling and inducing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, we explore potential mechanisms by which sEVs contribute to PMN formation in CRC and propose novel insights for CRC diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyang Wu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxing Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Zhengzhe Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Yi
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Die Hu
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Zhong
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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Guo S, Huang J, Li G, Chen W, Li Z, Lei J. The role of extracellular vesicles in circulating tumor cell-mediated distant metastasis. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:193. [PMID: 38037077 PMCID: PMC10688140 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01909-5] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyin Guo
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Genpeng Li
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Wenjie Chen
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Zhihui Li
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Jianyong Lei
- Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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Raza A, Yen MC, Anuraga G, Shahzadi I, Mazhar MW, Ta HDK, Xuan DTM, Dey S, Kumar S, Santoso AW, William BT, Wang CY. Comparative Analysis of the GNAI Family Genes in Glioblastoma through Transcriptomics and Single-Cell Technologies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5112. [PMID: 37894479 PMCID: PMC10605456 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers with a low overall survival rate. The treatment of GBM is challenging due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which hinders drug delivery. Invasive procedures alone are not effective at completely removing such tumors. Hence, identifying the crucial pathways and biomarkers for the treatment of GBM is of prime importance. We conducted this study to identify the pathways associated with GBM. We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) GBM genomic dataset to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We investigated the prognostic values of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(i) alpha subunit (GNAI) family of genes in GBM using a Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) dataset. Within this dataset, we observed the association in the tumor microenvironment between the gene expression of GNAI subunit 3 (GNAI3) and a poor prognosis. MetaCore and gene ontology (GO) analyses were conducted to explore the role of GNAI3 in co-expressed genes and associated signaling pathways using a transcript analysis. Notable pathways included "Cytoskeleton remodeling regulation of actin cytoskeleton organization by the kinase effectors of Rho GTPases" and "Immune response B cell antigen receptor (BCR) pathway". A single-cell analysis was used to assess GNAI3 expression in GBM. The results demonstrated that GNAI family genes, specifically GNAI3, were significantly associated with carcinogenesis and malignancy in GBM patients. Our findings suggest that the GNAI3 gene holds potential as a prognostic biomarker for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Raza
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chi Yen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Gangga Anuraga
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Iram Shahzadi
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | | | - Hoang Dang Khoa Ta
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Do Thi Minh Xuan
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Sanskriti Dey
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Adrian Wangsawijaya Santoso
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Bianca Tobias William
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Wang
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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Lionetti V. The Role of Exosomes in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911011. [PMID: 36232305 PMCID: PMC9569976 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Who would have thought that the discovery made by researchers at Washington University [...]
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Lionetti
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
- UOSVD Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Fondazione Toscana “Gabriele Monasterio”, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Blood Circulating CD133+ Extracellular Vesicles Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051357. [PMID: 35267665 PMCID: PMC8909146 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, we explored the prognostic and predictive value of blood circulating EVs expressing selected surface proteins in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A recently patented flow cytometry protocol was used for the identification and subtyping of blood circulating EVs in a cohort of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (n = 54) and in a cohort of healthy controls (n = 48). We observed an increased blood concentration of tumor-induced blood circulating EVs in the mCRC cohort as compared to healthy controls. Additionally, we show an intriguing link between circulating CD133+ EVs and poor clinical outcomes in patients with mCRC. This study provides novel insights about the potential impact of EVs as a relevant source of candidate biomarkers in mCRC. Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most incident and lethal malignancies worldwide. Recent treatment advances prolonged survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, there are still few biomarkers to guide clinical management and treatment selection in mCRC. In this study, we applied an optimized flow cytometry protocol for EV identification, enumeration, and subtyping in blood samples of 54 patients with mCRC and 48 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). The overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR) were evaluated in mCRC patients enrolled and treated with a first line fluoropyrimidine-based regimen. Our findings show that patients with mCRC presented considerably higher blood concentrations of total EVs, as well as CD133+ and EPCAM+ EVs compared to HCs. Overall survival analysis revealed that increased blood concentrations of total EVs and CD133+ EVs before treatment were significantly associated with shorter OS in mCRC patients (p = 0.001; and p = 0.0001, respectively). In addition, we observed a correlation between high blood levels of CD133+ EVs at baseline and reduced ORR to first-line systemic therapy (p = 0.045). These findings may open exciting perspectives into the application of novel blood-based EV biomarkers for improved risk stratification and optimized treatment strategies in mCRC.
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