Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (31): 6743-6752.doi: 10.12307/2025.539

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Effects and mechanisms of exosomal miRNA in treatment of multiple myeloma

Zhao Yihan1, 2, Sun Xuhang2, Zhao Lin3, Jiang Shiqing1   

  1. 1Department of Hematology and Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 2School of First Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 3Department of Hematology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200000, China
  • Received:2024-07-16 Accepted:2024-08-22 Online:2025-11-08 Published:2025-02-26
  • Contact: Jiang Shiqing, MD, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Hematology and Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • About author:Zhao Yihan, Doctoral candidate, Department of Hematology and Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; School of First Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Joint Open Project of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine “Zhang Zhongjing Inheritance and Innovation Special Project”, No. GZY-KJS-2022-038-2 (to JSQ); Natural Science Foundation (General Project) of Henan Province, No. 202300420055 (to JSQ); Major Special Project of Scientific Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine in Henan Province, No. 2024ZYZD03 (to JSQ); Graduate Student Research and Innovation Program of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, No. 2023KYCX003 (to ZYH)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma is one of the most common hematological malignancies, which is difficult to treat, prone to relapse, and resistant to drugs. The endogenous transport system of exosomes plays a communication role by affecting the exchange of functional components between cells. Among them, miRNA is more easily packaged in exosomes due to its small size, so it affects cell function in many ways and over a wide range.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the mechanism of exosomal miRNA in multiple myeloma and to propose potential targets. 
METHODS: The terms “multiple myeloma, bone marrow mesenchyml stem cell, fibroblasts, peripheral blood, complication, progression, drug resistance, exosomal miRNA” were used as English search terms in the PubMed database. The time frame of the search was from the inception to June 2024. After reading the titles and abstracts, we excluded irrelevant or repetitive literature, and finally included 81 papers for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Multiple myeloma cells participate in multiple myeloma bone lesions by regulating the balance of osteogenic and osteoclast functions through various miRNA mediated exosomes, regulating erythrocyte calcium ion efflux channels to participate in the occurrence of hypercalcemia, promoting renal epithelial mesenchymal transition leading to renal fibrosis and renal dysfunction, and upregulating bone marrow-derived mononuclear suppressor cells to promote suppression of the immune microenvironment. In addition, miRNAs in the exosomes of multiple myeloma cells are also involved in the occurrence and development of immunotherapy resistance, as well as pathological processes such as angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and cell aging. (2) Both bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts can affect the proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells through exosomal miRNA, interfere with angiogenesis, and regulate the resistance of chemotherapy drugs. (3) Peripheral blood circulating exosomal miRNAs, as cutting-edge noninvasive biomarkers, can play a key role in judging the stage and progression of multiple myeloma disease, predicting patient formation and prognosis, and evaluating drug sensitivity and drug resistance. (4) Multiple myeloma exosomes long non-coding RNA, circular RNA, miRNA, mRNA and target gene can form different combinations, and the flexible construction of new biological axes and biomolecular networks is in line with the development concept of holistic medicine. (5) Exosome miRNA has great development potential as a therapeutic target for predictive biomarkers and new drug research and development. How to maximize the use of exosome miRNA and how to accelerate the clinical transformation of related scientific research results deserve further investigation.


Key words: multiple myeloma, progression, drug resistance, complication, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell, fibroblast, peripheral blood, exosome, miRNA

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