Research progress in the role of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma / 复旦学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Exosome is a kind of microvesicles with lipid bilayer membrane and a diameter approximately ranging from 30 to 100 nanometers,which can be secreted by almost all kinds of cells.Exosome contains cell-specific proteins,lipids and nucleic acids,etc,and can transfer signaling molecules to target cells and change their biological functions.Researches on the role of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have drawn broad attention.Since the contents of exosomes can reflect the characteristics of their source cells,which can help distinguishing diseased tissues from normal ones,also for its universality in our body and convenience to obtain,exosomes are expected to serve as biomarkers of HCC for its detection,diagnosis and treatment.This review will focus on the potential biological effects of exosomal miRNA in the developmental process of hepatocellular carcinoma and the relevant role of exosomes in HCC.