Noncoding RNA-mediated macrophage and cancer cell crosstalk in hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Molecular therapy. Oncolytics 2022-06, Vol.25, p.98-120
• Main Authors: Zhou, Zhixia, Wang, Zhan, Gao, Jie, Lin, Zhijuan, Wang, Yin, Shan, Peipei, Li, Mengkun, Zhou, Tingting, Li, Peifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: circular RNA (circRNA); hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); long noncoding RNA (lncRNA); microRNA (miRNA); noncoding RNA (ncRNA); Review; tumor microenvironment (TME); tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)
• ISSN: 2372-7705; 2372-7705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.03.002

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a well-recognized system that plays an essential role in tumor initiation, development, and progression. Intense intercellular communication between tumor cells and other cells (especially macrophages) occurs in the TME and is mediated by cell-to-cell contact and/or soluble messengers. Emerging evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical regulators of the relationship between cells within the TME. In this review, we provide an update on the regulation of ncRNAs (primarily micro RNAs [miRNAs], long ncRNAs [lncRNAs], and circular RNAs [circRNAs]) in the crosstalk between macrophages and tumor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These ncRNAs are derived from macrophages or tumor cells and act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, contributing to tumor progression not only by regulating the physiological and pathological processes of tumor cells but also by controlling macrophage infiltration, activation, polarization, and function. Herein, we also explore the options available for clinical therapeutic strategies targeting crosstalk-related ncRNAs to treat HCC. A better understanding of the relationship between macrophages and tumor cells mediated by ncRNAs will uncover new diagnostic biomarkers and pharmacological targets in cancer. [Display omitted] Tumor-related macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-cell-derived ncRNAs (mainly miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors to influence tumor progression, not only by regulating almost all physiological and pathological processes of tumor cells but also by modulating the infiltration, activation, polarization, or function of TAMs.