MicroRNAs in the cancer cell-to-cell communication: An insight into biological vehicles

Cell-to-cell communication networks have indispensable roles in coordinating various biological processes in cancer cells or altering metabolism activity in both cancer and non-cancer cells. Exosomes, migrasomes, ecto-somes, apoptotic bodies, and exomeres belonging to the heterogeneous world of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have gained significant attention in recent years due to their principal role in cell-to-cell communication, including Extracellular Circulating miRNAs (ECmiRNAs) as a rich cargo content. ECmiRNAs can be taken up by target cells to mediate heterotypic cell-interactions and facilitate recipient repression in neighboring cells. The complex of ECmiRNAs with EVs, proteins, and lipoproteins structures such as TLR, AGO protein complex, HDL, and LDL can be more effective as mediators between cancer cells. The mechanism of multidrug resistance and angiogenesis in cancer cells may be altered during special signaling of EVs-ECmiRNAs during cell-to-cell communication. Also, those complexes may serve as novel biomarkers in cancer prognostication.

Automated summary

Cell-to-cell communication networks play crucial roles in coordinating biological processes in cancer cells and altering metabolism in both cancer and non-cancer cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and their cargo content such as extracellular circulating miRNAs (ECmiRNAs), have emerged as key mediators of cell-to-cell communication. ECmiRNAs can be taken up by target cells to regulate heterotypic cell interactions and facilitate repression in neighboring cells. EVs-ECmiRNA complexes, together with proteins and lipoprotein structures, may serve as effective mediators between cancer cells.