We have collected the most exciting new researches in the field of genetics and cellular research in the past week.
Hypoxia-Driven Changes in Tumor Microenvironment: Insights into Exosome-Mediated Cell Interactions
Hypoxia, as a prominent feature of the tumor microenvironment, has a profound impact on the multicomponent changes within this environment. Under hypoxic conditions, the malignant phenotype of tumor cells, the variety of cell types within the tumor microenvironment, as well as intercellular communication and material exchange, undergo complex alterations. These changes provide significant prospects for exploring the mechanisms of tumor development under different microenvironmental conditions and for devising therapeutic strategies. Exosomes secreted by tumor cells and stromal cells are integral components of the tumor microenvironment, serving as crucial mediators of intercellular communication and material exchange, and have consequently garnered increasing attention from researchers. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which hypoxic conditions promote the release of exosomes by tumor cells and alter their encapsulated contents. It also examines the effects of exosomes derived from tumor cells, immune cells, and other cell types under hypoxic conditions on the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we summarize current research progress on the potential clinical applications of exosomes under hypoxic conditions and propose future research directions in this field.
Engineered exosome-based drug delivery system shows promise for ovarian cancer therapy
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide. Unlike breast cancer, ovarian cancer lacks early diagnostic markers and does not show noticeable symptoms until cancer metastases, leading to a low survival rate for ovarian cancer patients. Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and interventional therapy. However, the distribution of chemotherapeutic drugs in vivo is non-specific and often toxic to healthy cells, leading to unsatisfactory efficacy.
In a study published in the KeAi journal Biomedical Analysis, a group of researchers from China outline a new discrimination and treatment approach -; a novel exosome-based drug delivery system that could improve the cell entry ability of drugs and the targeting of cancer cells. This approach provides a new drug delivery system and synergistic therapy idea, paving the way for future clinical applications.
Isolation and characterization of milk exosomes for use in advanced therapies
Exosomes are tiny, cell-derived vesicles with a diameter of 30 to 120 nanometers. Despite their small size, they play a significant role in cell communication and have shown promise for various therapeutic applications due to their low immunogenicity and high compatibility with the human body. In recent years, researchers have been exploring the potential of exosomes as therapeutic agents, given their ability to carry molecules like proteins, lipids, and RNAs that can influence other cells.