Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry a variety of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can be taken up by neighboring cells or transported to distant sites via bodily fluids, thereby facilitating intercellular communication and regulating multiple cellular fu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haixia Zhang, Lianfeng Gong, Li Yu, Chenge Xian, Zhaowu Ma, Xianwang Wang, Ruohan Xia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03809-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850140500914339840
author Haixia Zhang
Lianfeng Gong
Li Yu
Chenge Xian
Zhaowu Ma
Xianwang Wang
Ruohan Xia
author_facet Haixia Zhang
Lianfeng Gong
Li Yu
Chenge Xian
Zhaowu Ma
Xianwang Wang
Ruohan Xia
author_sort Haixia Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry a variety of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can be taken up by neighboring cells or transported to distant sites via bodily fluids, thereby facilitating intercellular communication and regulating multiple cellular functions. Within the tumor microenvironment, EV-ncRNA, on the one hand, regulate the expression of PD-L1, thereby influencing tumor immune evasion, promoting tumor cell proliferation, and enhancing tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in vivo. On the other hand, these specific EV-ncRNAs can also modulate the functions of immune cells (such as CD8 + T cells, macrophages, and NK cells) through various molecular mechanisms, inducing an immunosuppressive microenvironment and promoting resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. Therefore, delving into the molecular mechanisms underlying EV-ncRNA regulation of immune checkpoints presents compelling therapeutic prospects for strategies that selectively target EV-ncRNAs. In this review, we elaborate on the cutting-edge research progress related to EV-ncRNAs in the context of cancer and dissect their pivotal roles in the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway. We also highlight the promising clinical applications of EV-ncRNAs in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, bridging basic research with practical clinical applications. Graphical Abstract
format Article
id doaj-art-96c4a05bb7a045a497b4eab56d9a2a20
institution OA Journals
issn 1475-2867
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Cancer Cell International
spelling doaj-art-96c4a05bb7a045a497b4eab56d9a2a202025-08-20T02:29:46ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-05-0125112110.1186/s12935-025-03809-8Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applicationsHaixia Zhang0Lianfeng Gong1Li Yu2Chenge Xian3Zhaowu Ma4Xianwang Wang5Ruohan Xia6Health Science Center, Yangtze UniversityHealth Science Center, Yangtze UniversityHealth Science Center, Yangtze UniversityNaidong District People’s HospitalHealth Science Center, Yangtze UniversityHealth Science Center, Yangtze UniversityHealth Science Center, Yangtze UniversityAbstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry a variety of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which can be taken up by neighboring cells or transported to distant sites via bodily fluids, thereby facilitating intercellular communication and regulating multiple cellular functions. Within the tumor microenvironment, EV-ncRNA, on the one hand, regulate the expression of PD-L1, thereby influencing tumor immune evasion, promoting tumor cell proliferation, and enhancing tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in vivo. On the other hand, these specific EV-ncRNAs can also modulate the functions of immune cells (such as CD8 + T cells, macrophages, and NK cells) through various molecular mechanisms, inducing an immunosuppressive microenvironment and promoting resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. Therefore, delving into the molecular mechanisms underlying EV-ncRNA regulation of immune checkpoints presents compelling therapeutic prospects for strategies that selectively target EV-ncRNAs. In this review, we elaborate on the cutting-edge research progress related to EV-ncRNAs in the context of cancer and dissect their pivotal roles in the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway. We also highlight the promising clinical applications of EV-ncRNAs in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, bridging basic research with practical clinical applications. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03809-8
spellingShingle Haixia Zhang
Lianfeng Gong
Li Yu
Chenge Xian
Zhaowu Ma
Xianwang Wang
Ruohan Xia
Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
Cancer Cell International
title Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
title_full Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
title_fullStr Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
title_full_unstemmed Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
title_short Emerging roles of non-coding RNA derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
title_sort emerging roles of non coding rna derived from extracellular vesicles in regulating pd 1 pd l1 pathway insights into cancer immunotherapy and clinical applications
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03809-8
work_keys_str_mv AT haixiazhang emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT lianfenggong emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT liyu emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT chengexian emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT zhaowuma emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT xianwangwang emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications
AT ruohanxia emergingrolesofnoncodingrnaderivedfromextracellularvesiclesinregulatingpd1pdl1pathwayinsightsintocancerimmunotherapyandclinicalapplications