MicroRNA Signatures and Molecular Subtypes of Glioblastoma: The Role of Extracellular Transfer

• Main Authors: Jakub Godlewski, Ruben Ferrer-Luna, Arun K. Rooj, Marco Mineo, Franz Ricklefs, Yuji S. Takeda, M. Oskar Nowicki, Elżbieta Salińska, Ichiro Nakano, Hakho Lee, Ralph Weissleder, Rameen Beroukhim, E. Antonio Chiocca, Agnieszka Bronisz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-06-01
• Series: Stem Cell Reports
• Subjects: cancer stem cells; subtypes; glioblastoma; GBM; cancer heterogeneity; microRNA; exosomes; extracellular vesicles
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213671117301789
• ISSN: 2213-6711

Despite the importance of molecular subtype classification of glioblastoma (GBM), the extent of extracellular vesicle (EV)-driven molecular and phenotypic reprogramming remains poorly understood. To reveal complex subpopulation dynamics within the heterogeneous intratumoral ecosystem, we characterized microRNA expression and secretion in phenotypically diverse subpopulations of patient-derived GBM stem-like cells (GSCs). As EVs and microRNAs convey information that rearranges the molecular landscape in a cell type-specific manner, we argue that intratumoral exchange of microRNA augments the heterogeneity of GSC that is reflected in highly heterogeneous profile of microRNA expression in GBM subtypes.