Role of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma and the regulation of traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually occurs on the basis of chronic liver inflammatory diseases and cirrhosis. The liver microenvironment plays a vital role in the tumor initiation and progression. Exosomes, which are nanometer-sized membrane vesicles are secreted by a number of cell types. Exosomes carry multiple proteins, DNAs and various forms of RNA, and are mediators of cell-cell communication and regulate the tumor microenvironment. In the recent decade, many studies have demonstrated that exosomes are involved in the communication between HCC cells and the stromal cells, including endothelial cells, macrophages, hepatic stellate cells and the immune cells, and serve as a regulator in the tumor proliferation and metastasis, immune evasion and immunotherapy. In addition, exosomes can also be used for the diagnosis and treatment HCC. They can potentially serve as specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug delivery vehicles of HCC. Chinese herbal medicine, which is widely used in the prevention and treatment of HCC in China, may regulate the release of exosomes and exosomes-mediated intercellular communication. In this review, we summarized the latest progresses on the role of the exosomes in the initiation, progression and treatment of HCC and the potential value of Traditional Chinese medicine in exosomes-mediated biological behaviors of HCC.

Engineered exosomes and composite biomaterials for tissue regeneration

“…Exosomes have also been studied for their potential role in hepatic regeneration, including liver tissue repair and regrowth after injury or damage. The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate, and exosomes have been shown to contribute to this process; they can stimulate the proliferation of hepatocytes, which are the primary functional cells of the liver and are crucial for tissue repair 110 , 111 . Exosomes can also enhance the migration of liver progenitor cells, which are involved in liver regeneration and differentiation.…”

The role of exosomes in therapeutic resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma

“…MiR-21 contributes to the acquired resistance to sorafenib by suppressing autophagy through the Akt/ PTEN pathway in HCC [20] . Furthermore, in 2019, Tian et al discovered that the acidic microenvironment in HCC induces the release of miR-21-enriched exosomes to promote cancer cell proliferation and metastasis [88] . Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the transmission of miR-21 through exosomes in response to an acidic microenvironment among HCC cells could suppress autophagy by modulating the Akt/PTEN pathway, which plays a crucial role in the acquisition of sorafenib resistance in HCC.…”

Integrative analysis of the molecular signature of target genes involved in the antitumor effects of cantharidin on hepatocellular carcinoma

“…Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours, and its prevalence and death rates have risen worldwide in recent years [ 1 ]. Statistics showed that 90% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) [ 1 ].…”

“…Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours, and its prevalence and death rates have risen worldwide in recent years [ 1 ]. Statistics showed that 90% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) [ 1 ]. Traditional therapies for HCC include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.…”

“…However, the cure rate is still very low, since a majority of patients present with advanced disease. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown obvious advantages in liver cancer treatment, acting as a multi-target adjuvant therapy [ 1 , 2 ]. Combining TCM with conventional therapeutic drugs is anticipated to increase sensitivity to effectively inhibit the development of liver cancer [ 1 ].…”