Laboratory of Chemistry and Toxicology

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Research Institute

EV projects leader: Martina Hýžďalová
website: https://www.vri.cz/en/departments/pharmacology-and-toxicology/
email: martina.hyzdalova@vri.cz

Extracellular vesicles and their sphingolipid profile in bronchial and lung cancer

Bronchial and lung cancer is the main malignant tumor leading to human death in the world today. Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been reported to mediate intercellular communication during carcinogenesis and play a role during lung cancer progression. The bioactivity of EVs is associated not only with their RNA and protein content, but it can be also linked with specific sphingolipid (SL) and glycosphingolipid (GSL) composition. SL/GSL are bioactive molecules involved in the regulation of many biological processes, including those associated with tumor and metastasis development.

Our work is focused on better understanding of the role of EVs and SL/GSL metabolism in cancer development/progression. We study alterations of SL/GSL content and deregulation of lipid metabolism in both bronchial cells and their released EVs during chemical carcinogen-induced transformation. Further, we compare GSL metabolism changes in EVs isolated from blood serum and tumor tissue samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EVs from normal lung tissue samples to characterize potential biomarkers in NSCLC. In collaboration with CEITEC MU Brno and University Hospital Brno, we participate in a project dealing with glioma-derived EVs circulating in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The goal of this study is to reveal a panel of EV microRNAs able to predict prognosis and therapeutic response in glioma patients. Our research also includes complex characterization of isolated EVs using multi-angled dynamic light scattering (MADLS), electron microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry.