Exosomal MicroRNA: A Diagnostic Marker for Lung Cancer

PurposeTo date, there is no screening test for lung cancer shown to affect overall mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA genes found to be abnormally expressed in several types of cancer, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of human cancer.Patients and MethodsWe evaluated the circulating levels of tumor exosomes, exosomal small RNA, and specific exosomal miRNAs in patients with and without lung adenocarcinoma, correlating the levels with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) disease stage to validate it as an acceptable marker for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.ResultsTo date, 27 patients with lung adenocarcinoma AJCC stages I-IV and 9 controls, all aged 21-80 years, were enrolled in the study. Small RNA was detected in the circulating exosomes. The mean exosome concentration was 2.85 mg/mL (95% CI, 1.94–3.76) for the lung adenocarcinoma group versus 0.77 mg/mL (95% CI, 0.68–0.86) for the control group (P < .001). The mean miRNA concentration was 158.6 ng/mL (95% CI, 145.7–171.5) for the lung adenocarcinoma group versus 68.1 ng/mL (95% CI, 57.2–78.9) for the control group (P < .001). Comparisons between peripheral circulation miRNA-derived exosomes and miRNA-derived tumors indicated that the miRNA signatures were not significantly different.ConclusionThe significant difference in total exosome and miRNA levels between lung cancer patients and controls, and the similarity between the circulating exosomal miRNA and the tumor-derived miRNA patterns, suggest that circulating exosomal miRNA might be useful as a screening test for lung adenocarcinoma. No correlation between the exosomal miRNA levels and the stage of disease can be made at this point.     

RAB27B-activated secretion of stem-like tumor exosomes delivers the biomarker microRNA-146a-5p,which promotes tumorigenesis and associates with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer

The dynamic cell–cell communication is essential for tissue homeostasis in normal physiological circumstances and contributes to a diversified tumor microenvironment. Although exosomes are extracellular vesicles that actively participate in cell–cell interaction by shutting cellular components, impacts of tumor exosomes in the context of cancer stemness remain elusive. Here, we expand colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs) as cancer spheroids and demonstrate that the β-catenin/Tcf-4-activated RAB27B expression is required for the secretion of CRCSC exosomes. In an exosomal RNA sequencing analysis, a switch of exosomal RNA species from retrotransposons to microRNAs (miRNAs) is identified upon expanding CRCSCs. miRNA-146a-5p (miR-146a) is the major miRNA in CRCSC exosomes and exosomal miR-146a promotes stem-like properties and tumorigenicity by targeting Numb in recipient CRC cells. Among 53 CRC patients, those with abundant exosomal miR-146a expression in serum exhibits higher miR-146a^High/Numb^Low CRCSC traits, an increased number of tumor-filtrating CD66(+) neutrophils and a decreased number of tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T cells. Our study elucidates a unique mechanism of tumor exosome-mediated stemness expansion.     

Endothelial exosomes contribute to the antitumor response during breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy via microRNA transfer

The interaction between tumor cells and their microenvironment is an essential aspect of tumor development. Therefore, understanding how this microenvironment communicates with tumor cells is crucial for the development of new anti-cancer therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit gene expression. They are secreted into the extracellular medium in vesicles called exosomes, which allow communication between cells via the transfer of their cargo. Consequently, we hypothesized that circulating endothelial miRNAs could be transferred to tumor cells and modify their phenotype. Using exogenous miRNA, we demonstrated that endothelial cells can transfer miRNA to tumor cells via exosomes. Using miRNA profiling, we identified miR-503, which exhibited downregulated levels in exosomes released from endothelial cells cultured under tumoral conditions. The modulation of miR-503 in breast cancer cells altered their proliferative and invasive capacities. We then identified two targets of miR-503, CCND2 and CCND3. Moreover, we measured increased plasmatic miR-503 in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which could be partly due to increased miRNA secretion by endothelial cells. Taken together, our data are the first to reveal the involvement of the endothelium in the modulation of tumor development via the secretion of circulating miR-503 in response to chemotherapy treatment.     

血浆外泌体miR-423-5p在前列腺癌骨转移患者中的差异表达分析

目的:研究血浆外泌体来源microRNA（miRNA）,作为前列腺癌骨转移的潜在标志物。方法:选取3例初诊为前列腺癌骨转移患者和3例局限性前列腺癌患者,收集患者外周静脉血10 mL,使用超速离心法及透射电子显微镜对血浆外泌体提取和鉴定。应用高通量测序分析血浆外泌体miRNA的差异表达谱。通过基因数据库GEO和已发表文章对差异miRNA筛选,选取测序结果中差异表达miRNAs,对7例局限性前列腺癌患者和10例前列腺癌骨转移患者的血浆外泌体进行qRT-PCR验证,同时结合GEO数据库样本进行验证。结果:高通量测序结果显示,从患者外周血浆外泌体中平均检测到740种miRNAs,通过R软件计算差异miRNA,得出61种差异miRNA;与对照组相比,hsa-miR-885-5p、hsa-miR-1255a、hsa-miR-122-5p、hsa-miR-141-3p、hsa-miR-423-5p、hsa-miR-1224-5p等在骨转移组中差异表达,通过靶基因功能及数据库表达选取miRNA进行PCR验证,发现hsa-miR-423-5p表达差异具有统计学意义（P=0.033）。通过数据库对60例局限性前列腺癌患者和40例骨转移患者统计发现,hsa-miR-423-5p在前列腺癌骨转移中显著下调（P=0.001<0.05）。结论:血浆外泌体来源miR-423-5p在前列腺癌骨转移中显著下调,有望成为前列腺癌骨转移患者中新的标志物。     

循环血液外泌体miRNA在卵巢癌发生发展中作用及其诊断价值的研究进展

卵巢癌（ovarian cancer,OC）是女性恶性肿瘤死亡的主要原因。由于卵巢癌无症状发展,缺乏早期诊断标志物,大多数患者在晚期才被诊断出来。早期检测卵巢癌可显著提高总生存率,在过去的几十年里,微小RNA（miRNA）在癌症的发展中起着重要的作用,因此引起了极大的关注。miRNA可以在循环血液中稳定存在(如包裹在外泌体中),并可通过外泌体的分泌和转移在肿瘤细胞之间和肿瘤细胞微环境的沟通中发挥重要的作用。此外,外泌体miRNA在卵巢癌中的表达是失调的,可能反映肿瘤的恶性特征。因此评估外泌体来源的循环miRNA可能会为卵巢癌提供一类新的非侵袭性生物标志物。本综述概述了有关外泌体miRNA在卵巢癌发生发展过程中的作用以及循环血液外泌体miRNA作为卵巢癌早期诊断潜在生物标志物的现状。     

膀胱癌患者尿液外泌体中miRNA差异表达谱及其生物信息学分析

目的:通过检测及筛选膀胱癌患者及正常人尿液外泌体中差异性表达的miRNA,进行生物学分析,探讨miRNA在膀胱癌发病中的作用。方法:利用超高速离心法及Illumina高通量测序技术分离并检测5例膀胱癌患者及5例配对正常人尿液标本中外泌体miRNA的表达情况,构建其差异表达谱。对差异表达基因进行生物信息学分析,确定差异表达miRNA的主要生物学功能及其可能参与的信号通路。结果:与正常人相比,膀胱癌患者尿液外泌体中共有38个miRNA显著异常表达,其中上调34个,下调4个。通过GO富集及KEGG分析,上述差异表达的miRNA可能通过趋化因子信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、MAPK信号通路及RAS信号通路等参与膀胱癌的发生和发展过程,分别涉及脂质代谢、多糖降解、RNA降解及碱基切除修复等多种生化代谢途径,并参与细胞的粘连、内吞作用、突触囊泡循环等生物学过程。结论:膀胱癌患者尿液外泌体中miRNA的表达谱发生了显著的变化,has-miR-486-5p、hsa-miR-199b-5p、hsa-miR-7704和has-miR-184等miRNA可能通过趋化因子信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、MAPK信号通路及RAS信号通路等在膀胱癌的发生发展过程中发挥重要作用。     

Exosomal miR-30a and miR-222 derived from colon cancer mesenchymal stem cells promote the tumorigenicity of colon cancer through targeting MIA3

BackgroundMultipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from virus tumors have been reported to contribute to malignant cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, the mechanism of communication between MSCs and colon cancer cells is poorly understood. Recent studies have suggested that exosomes are an important player in crosstalk between cells and could significantly suppress the invasion ability of human cancer cells (hCCs) when transfected with a microRNA inhibitor. However, to date, no study has illuminated the miRNA changes in exosomes derived from hCC-MSCs.MethodsColon cancer stem cells were cultured in medium and passaged to develop fibroblast-like morphology. Exosomes were collected using ExoQuick precipitation and exosome morphology was visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Small RNA sequencing was analyzed using an Illumina HiSeq4000 analyzer, and the expression of MIA3 was assessed by real-time PCR and Western blot. The functional roles of miR-30a and miR-222 in colon cancer cells were evaluated through cell and animal experiments.ResultsOur results showed that the characteristics of MSC-like cells (hCC-MSCs) derived from human colon cancer stem cells were comparable to those of bone marrow-derived MSCs, including surface antigens and the ability to multi-differentiate to osteocytes and adipocytes. Furthermore, we screened the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of exosomes derived from hCC-MSCs and the corresponding parent hCC-MSCs. We found a significant enrichment in the miR-30a and miR-222 level in hCC-MSC-derived exosomes. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that miR-30a and miR-222 bound to their shared downstream target, MIA3, to promote the ability of colon cells to proliferate, migrate, and metastasize, thus evidencing their functional roles as oncogenic miRNAs.ConclusionsThese data suggest that hCC-MSC-secreted exosomes promote colon cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through delivering miR-30a and miR-222. Subsequently, exosomal miR-30a and miR-222 simultaneously target MIA3, suppress its expression, and promote colon cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis.     

循环miR-29a和miR-150与非小细胞肺癌胸部放射治疗剂量的相关性

目的:探讨非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC）胸部放射治疗剂量与循环血miR-29a和miR-150的相关性。方法:收集56例2014年1月至2015年12月在我院接受放射治疗的诊断为NSCLC的患者,其中5例NSCLC患者在0、20、40、60 Gy辐照后用miRNA芯片检测循环血miRNA表达差异;51例NSCLC患者在0、20、40 Gy辐照后用实时定量PCR验证循环血中候选miRNA表达;医用直线加速器（2 Gy/天,连续处理3天）辐照A549和MRC5细胞,实时定量PCR检测细胞内和细胞上清外泌体miR-29a和miR-150的表达。结果:miRNA芯片筛选出随着患者放疗剂量的增加而差异表达的10个miRNA（miR-29a、miR-150、miR-142、miR-342、miR-125b、miR-101、miR-425、miR-338、miR-126、miR-15b）。验证发现验证组患者0、20、40 Gy辐照后循环血miR-29a和miR-150表达具有统计学差异（P<0.05）。验证组循环miR-29a和miR-150分别与V5、V20、MLD、Mean Eso呈负相关。A549及MRC5细胞辐照3天后细胞内miR-29a和miR-150表达显著增加（P<0.05）,细胞上清外泌体中表达显著下降（P<0.05）。结论:循环血miR-29a和miR-150与NSCLC胸部放射治疗剂量相关。     

肺癌患者血浆外泌体microRNAs标志物的筛选

目的:筛选肺癌患者血浆外泌体中的异常microRNA(miRNA),以期为肺癌筛查及辅助诊断提供新的标志物和方向。方法:选择6名肺癌患者(腺癌3例、鳞癌2例,小细胞肺癌1例)和4名健康对照者血浆样本,采用差速离心法提取血浆外泌体,采用Agilent Bioanalyzer对抽提的RNA进行质量检验,对血浆外泌体miRNA进行高通量测序分析,采用TargetScan、PITA和miRNAorg数据库进行靶基因预测,应用R软件进行靶基因的KEGG和GO分析。结果:miRNA表达分析发现,与正常对照者比较,肺癌患者血浆外泌体中有142种miRNAs表达异常,其中62种miRNAs表达上调,80种miRNAs表达下调。GO分析显示,这些miRNAs的靶基因主要参与了以DNA为模板的转录、转录调控及信号转导等。KEGG分析显示,这些miRNAs的靶基因主要参与轴突导向信号通路、钙信号通路、肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节等。结论:通过对肺癌患者和健康对照者血浆外泌体miRNAs进行高通量测序,初步筛选出差异表达miRNA,经生物信息学分析,推测其对肺癌转移具有良好预测潜力,有望成为肺癌筛查和辅助诊断的候选生物标志物。     

Exosomal microRNA in serum is a novel biomarker of recurrence in human colorectal cancer

Background:

Functional microRNAs (miRNAs) in exosomes have been recognised as potential stable biomarkers in cancers. The aim of this study is to identify specific miRNAs in exosome as serum biomarkers for the early detection of recurrence in human colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods:

Serum samples were sequentially obtained from six patients with and without recurrent CRC. The miRNAs were purified from exosomes, and miRNA microarray analysis was performed. The miRNA expression profiles and copy number aberrations were explored using microarray and array CGH analyses in 124 CRC tissues. Then, we validated exosomal miRNAs in 2 serum sample sets (90 and 209 CRC patients) by quantitative real-time RT–PCR.

Results:

Exosomal miR-17-92a cluster expression level in serum was correlated with the recurrence of CRC. Exosomal miR-19a expression levels in serum were significantly increased in patients with CRC as compared with healthy individuals with gene amplification. The CRC patients with high exosomal miR-19a expression showed poorer prognoses than the low expression group (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Abundant expression of exosomal miR-19a in serum was identified as a prognostic biomarker for recurrence in CRC patients.     

Circulating exosomal miR-125a-5p as a novel biomarker for cervical cancer

Exosomal microRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) have been reported to be associated with cervical cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate circulating exosomal miRNA as a biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis. In the present study, samples from 6 patients with cervical cancer and 6 healthy control subjects were retrieved for exosomal RNA-sequencing. The results revealed that a total of 39 miRNAs were differentially expressed between patients with cervical cancer and healthy controls (P<0.001; fold-change >2.0). Exosomal miR-125a-5p was further quantified in plasma from 60 subjects, which included 22 healthy individuals and 38 patients with cervical cancer. miR-16a-5p served as the reference miRNA for quantitative PCR analysis of exosomal miR-125a-5p in patients with cervical cancer and healthy individuals. The results revealed that exosomal miR-125a-5p expression levels in the patients with cervical cancer were significantly lower than those in the healthy controls (P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed and the results revealed that the level of plasma exosomal miR-125a-5p was a potential marker for differentiating between non-cervical cancer and cervical cancer, with an ROC area under the curve of 0.7129. At the cut-off value of 2.537 for miR-125a-5p, cervical cancer diagnostic sensitivities and specificities were 59.1 and 84.2%, respectively. The present study provides confirmation that exosomal miR-125a-5p could potentially serve as a biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis. The present study involved only a small number of clinical samples; more samples are required to support the conclusions of the present study.     

Exosomal and non-exosomal miRNA expression levels in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis and liver cancer

Patients with HCV-related cirrhosis are at risk for liver cancer development. For these patients miRNAs may serve as preclinical markers, which expression levels are deregulated in cancer and which are stable to the damaging factors partly through complex formation with proteins or packaging into exosomes. In this research we have tried to identify what miRNA fraction in plasma – exosomal or not packed into exosomes (non-exosomal) – is stronger associated with primary liver cancer. The second question was whether saliva miRNA expression levels – both exosomal and non-exosomal – are associated with primary liver cancer. We evaluated exosomal and non-exosomal miRNAs – let-7a-5p, -16-5p, -18a-5p, -21-5p, -22-3p, -34a-5p, -103a-3p, -122-5p, -221-3p, -222-3p – in plasma and saliva of patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis (n = 24), primary liver cancer (n = 24) and healthy volunteers (n = 21). Relative expression level was calculated with normalization of exosomal miRNA to exosomal miRNA-16-5p, non-exosomal miRNA to non-exosomal miRNA-16-5p and as a ratio of exosomal miRNA to non-exosomal miRNA. In this study, non-exosomal miRNAs (let-7a, miRNA-21-5p, -22-3p, -103a, -122-5p, -221-3p and 222-3p) normalized to non-exosomal miRNA-16-5p showed strong association with liver cancer in plasma. Three miRNAs, those with the mostly pronounced change of expression levels in plasma, – miRNA-21-5p, 122-5p, 221-3p – were detected in saliva. In contrast, exosomal miRNAs show stronger association with primary liver over non-exosomal miRNAs when working with saliva. Thus, depending on the examined biological material both miRNA fractions may serve as a valuable source for diagnostic and prognostic data.     

血清外泌体miRNAs联合CA72-4在胃癌诊断中的价值分析

  目的  筛选胃癌患者及健康人血清外泌体miRNAs,探究miRNAs联合肿瘤标记物在胃癌诊断中的价值。  方法  选取2020年4月至2021年4月在苏州大学附属第一医院确诊胃癌的46例患者为胃癌组,同期20例健康体检者为对照组,收集两组血清标本,行血清外泌体miRNAs测序,筛选并验证差异性表达的miRNAs,将验证后的miRNAs表达水平、肿瘤标志物数值与胃癌诊断行Spearman相关分析,并绘制受试者工作特征（receiver operating characteristic ,ROC）曲线,分别分析外泌体miRNAs、CA72-4及两者联合在胃癌诊断中的价值。  结果  两组血清外泌体共筛选出376个差异表达的miRNAs,经q-PCR验证,仅4个miRNAs差异具有统计学意义,采用ROC曲线判断外泌体miRNAs在胃癌诊断中的效能:miR-1323、miR-26a-5p、miR-202-3p、miR-96-5p诊断胃癌的曲线下面积（area under curve,AUC）分别为0.908、0.815、0.570、0.547,灵敏度分别为71.7%、67.4%、30.4%、19.6%,特异度分别100%、85.0%、90.0%、100%。Spearman相关分析结果提示:miR-26a-5p、miR-1323和CA72-4与胃癌诊断相关,ROC曲线显示:miR-26a-5p、miR-1323和CA72-4三者联合诊断的曲线下面积为0.967,高于三者单独诊断效能,其灵敏度和特异度分别为87.0%、100%。  结论  联合检测血清外泌体miR-26a-5p、miR-1323和CA72-4的表达水平,在胃癌诊断中具有潜在价值。