We have collected the most exciting new researches in the field of genetics and cellular research in the past week.
Recent advances in the roles of exosomal microRNAs (exomiRs) in hematologic neoplasms: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment
Abstract
In clinical diagnosis, the capability of exosomes to serve as biomarkers is one of the most important biological functions of exosomes. The superior stability of exosome biomarkers makes them superior to those isolated from traditional samples such as serum and urine. Almost all body fluids contain exosomes, which contain proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Several molecular components of exosomes, including exosome proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), are promising diagnostic biomarkers. These exosomes may carry genetic information by containing messenger RNA (mRNA) and miRNA. The miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate protein-coding genes by acting as translational repressors. It has been shown that miRNAs are mis-expressed in a range of conditions, including hematologic neoplasms. Additionally, miRNAs found within exosomes have been linked with specific diseases, including hematologic neoplasms. Numerous studies suggest that circulating exosomes contain miRNAs similar to those found in parental cancer cells. Exosomes contain miRNAs that are released by almost all kinds of cells. MiRNAs are packaged into exosomes and delivered to recipient cells, and manipulate its function. It has been recognized that exosomes are new therapeutic targets for immunotherapy and biomedicine of cancers. The current review discusses the current evidence around exosomal miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of hematologic neoplasms.
Exosomes: Promising Delivery Tools for Overcoming Blood-Brain Barrier and Glioblastoma Therapy
Abstract
Gliomas make up virtually 80% of all lethal primary brain tumors and are categorized based on their cell of origin. Glioblastoma is an astrocytic tumor that has an inferior prognosis despite the ongoing advances in treatment modalities. One of the main reasons for this shortcoming is the presence of the blood-brain barrier and blood-brain tumor barrier. Novel invasive and non-invasive drug delivery strategies for glioblastoma have been developed to overcome both the intact blood-brain barrier and leverage the disrupted nature of the blood-brain tumor barrier to target cancer cells after resection-the first treatment stage of glioblastoma. Exosomes are among non-invasive drug delivery methods and have emerged as a natural drug delivery vehicle with high biological barrier penetrability. There are various exosome isolation methods from different origins, and the intended use of the exosomes and starting materials defines the choice of isolation technique. In the present review, we have given an overview of the structure of the blood-brain barrier and its disruption in glioblastoma. This review provided a comprehensive insight into novel passive and active drug delivery techniques to overcome the blood-brain barrier, emphasizing exosomes as an excellent emerging drug, gene, and effective molecule delivery vehicle used in glioblastoma therapy.
Understanding of Ovarian Cancer Cell-Derived Exosome Tropism for Future Therapeutic Applications
Abstract
Exosomes, a subtype of extracellular vesicles, ranging from 50 to 200 nm in diameter, and mediate cell-to-cell communication in normal biological and pathological processes. Exosomes derived from tumors have multiple functions in cancer progression, resistance, and metastasis through cancer exosome-derived tropism. However, there is no quantitative information on cancer exosome-derived tropism. Such data would be highly beneficial to guide cancer therapy by inhibiting exosome release and/or uptake. Using two fluorescent protein (mKate2) transfected ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCA4 and OVCA8), cancer exosome tropism was quantified by measuring the released exosome from ovarian cancer cells and determining the uptake of exosomes into parental ovarian cancer cells, 3D spheroids, and tumors in tumor-bearing mice. The OVCA4 cells release 50 to 200 exosomes per cell, and the OVCA8 cells do 300 to 560 per cell. The uptake of exosomes by parental ovarian cancer cells is many-fold higher than by non-parental cells. In tumor-bearing mice, most exosomes are homing to the parent cancer rather than other tissues. We successfully quantified exosome release and uptake by the parent cancer cells, further proving the tropism of cancer cell-derived exosomes. The results implied that cancer exosome tropism could provide useful information for future cancer therapeutic applications.
Exosome Therapy – Nanoparticles for Biogenesis & Delivery
Exomes are the portions of an organism’s genome containing protein-coding genes. They comprise a small part of the total DNA, usually around 1-2%, but are responsible for most known genetic functions. Exomes contain sequences called exons, which are the coding regions within genes. These exons are transcribed into RNA and then translated into proteins, which perform various functions within the cell and the organism.
Exome sequencing is a technique used by researchers and clinicians to analyze the protein-coding regions of the genome. By focusing on the exome, scientists can study the most functionally relevant parts of the genome at lower costs and with greater efficiency than whole-genome sequencing. This approach is beneficial for identifying genetic variants associated with diseases and disorders, as many of them are caused by mutations in protein-coding genes.
EXOSOMM creates novel bioactive ingredient from mechanisms within human breastmilk
While still a young start-up, it has already reached commercial production capacity of its patent-protected exosomes for the medical food space.
A method to access genetic information in blood samples and find correlations with mental health problems
In a study with 116 participants, researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo evaluated the genetic material contained in extracellular vesicles possibly secreted by brain tissue.