Understanding the language of complex disease: How non-coding RNAs provide a means of cell-to-cell communication via a process of intercellular epigenetics

Once thought to be little more than a way for cells to offload waste, exosomes are now recognised to be a deliberate way for a cell to secrete cargos of RNA, DNA and proteins to reshape tissue and act as signal carriers. These somewhat overlooked organelles may hold the key to understanding how diseased tissues communicate with the rest of the body. Using cancer as a model, our work is the first to look at how the RNA cargo of exosomes produced by prostate cancer exosomes can selectively reprogramme the cells of the bone to create a nice that is supportive of tumour growth (pre-metastatic niche) promoting the spread of the cancer outside of the prostate and into the bone.
This project will build upon this cutting-edge programme of research by exploring the role of the non-coding RNA molecules found within prostate cancer vesicles. Through the development of novel tools and approaches, the project will seek to determine if the non-coding RNA cargo of these vesicles is capable of mediating cell-to-cell epigenetic communication.

Supervisors: Dr Cristina Tufarelli (Leicester), Professor Nigel Mongan (UoN), Dr Cinzia Allegrucci (UoN) and Dr Jenny Persson, UMEA University