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Review
. 2024 Jan 17:37:101644.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101644. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Exosomal microRNAs in regulation of tumor cells resistance to apoptosis

Mohammad Salehi  1   2 , Mohammad Javad Kamali  3 , Daniyal Arab  4 , Naghme Safaeian  5 , Zahra Ashuori  6 , Moein Maddahi  7 , Narges Latifi  8 , Amir Moein Jahromi  9
Affiliations
Review

Exosomal microRNAs in regulation of tumor cells resistance to apoptosis

Mohammad Salehi et al. Biochem Biophys Rep. .

Abstract

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle that contains bioactive molecules that can be secreted by most cells. Nevertheless, the content of these cells differs depending on the cell from which they originate. The exosome plays a crucial role in modulating intercellular communication by conveying molecular messages to neighboring or distant cells. Cancer-derived exosomes can transfer several types of molecules into the tumor microenvironment, including high levels of microRNA (miRNA). These miRNAs significantly affect cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis resistance, metastasis, and immune evasion. Increasing evidence indicates that exosomal miRNAs (exomiRs) are crucial to regulating cancer resistance to apoptosis. In cancer cells, exomiRs orchestrate communication channels between them and their surrounding microenvironment, modulating gene expression and controlling apoptosis signaling pathways. This review presents an outline of present-day knowledge of the mechanisms that affect target cells and drive cancer resistance to apoptosis. Also, our study looks at the regulatory role of exomiRs in mediating intercellular communication between tumor cells and surrounding microenvironmental cells, specifically stromal and immune cells, to evade therapy-induced apoptosis.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cancer; Drug resistance; Exosome; MicroRNA.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles, are characterized by a core set of markers, including CD9, CD63, CD81, CD82, and ALIX. These markers aid in their identification and isolation. Exosomes carry a diverse cargo of biomolecules, such as DNAs, mRNAs, ncRNAs, proteins, lipids, and metabolites. Cargo composition influences intercellular communication and cellular processes. Created with BioRender.com.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The sorting mechanism of exosomal-miRNAs. (a): This mechanism begins with the biogenesis of miRNAs in the nucleus. (b): In donor cell cytoplasm, the sorting of exomiRs into exosomes occurs. (c): exosomes are secreted from the donor cell and incorporated into the recipient cell by several mechanisms that have been shown. (d): Upon entering the recipient cell, exomiRs can bind to their target mRNAs' 3′-UTR (untranslated region). This binding leads to the degradation of the target mRNA or repression of translation, thereby limiting protein synthesis. Created with BioRender.com.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A diagram illustrating the role of Exosomal microRNAs and their intricate involvement in the signaling pathways associated with lung cancer. In this diagram, the diverse repertoire of Exosomal microRNAs implicated in lung cancer pathogenesis is depicted, highlighting their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Created with BioRender.com.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Three main aspects of using exosomes in biomedical research. Created with BioRender.com.
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