CircPRKD3-loaded exosomes concomitantly elicit tumor growth inhibition and glioblastoma microenvironment remodeling via inhibiting STAT3 signaling

Abstract Background Glioblastoma stem cells and their exosomes (exos) are involved in shaping the immune microenvironment, which is important for tumor invasion and recurrence. However, studies involving GSC-derived exosomal circular RNAs (GDE-circRNAs) in regulating tumor microenvironment (TME) remain unknown. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the significance of a novel immune-related GDE-circRNA in the glioma microenvironment. Methods GDE-circPRKD3 was screened out through high-throughput sequencing and verified by RT-PCR, sanger sequencing, and RNase R assays. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the function of GDE-circPRKD3. RNA-seq, RNA immunoprecipitation, multicolor flow cytometry, and western blotting were used to explore the regulation of GDE-circPRKD3 on STAT3 signaling-mediated TME remodeling. Results We have characterized a circRNA PRKD3 in GSC exosomes, and lower circPRKD3 expression predicts a worse prognosis for glioblastoma patients. Overexpression of GDE-circPRKD3 significantly impairs the biological competence of glioma and prolongs the survival of xenograft mice. GDE-circPRKD3 binds to HNRNPC in an m6A-dependent manner, accelerates mRNA decay of IL6ST, and inhibits downstream target STAT3. Notably, GDE-circPRKD3 promotes CXCL10 secretion by reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages, which in turn recruits CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes against GBM. Moreover, brain-targeted lipid nanoparticle delivery of circPRKD3 combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy achieves significant combinatorial benefits. Conclusions This study provides a novel mechanism by which GDE-circPRKD3 relies on STAT3 signaling to remodel immunosuppressive TME and offers a potential RNA immunotherapy strategy for GBM treatment.