Role of Hyaluronan in Interactions of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles with Cells of Monocyte Origin

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a new form of intercellular communication have preoccupied researchers for many years now. In the field of cancer biology, specifically the role of tumor-derived EVs (TEVs) in tumor progression and their interactions with immunological cells have been a highly investigated research topic. In this context, an emphasis has been put on the cargo material transported via TEVs from the parental cells to the target “recipients” in different organs and tissues. Here we focused on hyaluronic acid (HA) as an important player in these interactions, with relevance to myeloid cells of monocyte origin, known as having both anti- and pro-tumorigenic effects. Despite the general information regarding the HA structure, its forms, and cellular receptors, based on the recent studies, we provide evidence on the role of the tumor tissue HA and HA-TEVs complexes in modulation of monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells activities during cancer development and progression. We also present the possible forms of HA-targeted therapies as potentially promising approach in future treatment of cancer.