Tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles promote the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts via the transfer of microRNA-125b

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Victor Ma
  • Camille A. Mathey-Andrews
  • Chun Kuen Lam
  • Theodoros Kiomourtzis
  • Jingmin Jin
  • Larry McReynolds
  • Andrew Grimson
  • William C. Cho
  • Judy Liebermand

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number1599680
Journal / PublicationJournal of Extracellular Vesicles
Volume8
Issue number1
Online published14 Apr 2019
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Link(s)

Abstract

Tumour cells release large quantities of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to mediate their interactions with other cells in the tumour microenvironment. To identify host cells that naturally take up EVs from tumour cells, we created breast cancer cell lines secreting fluorescent EVs. These fluorescent EVs are taken up most robustly by fibroblasts within the tumour microenvironment. RNA sequencing indicated that miR-125b is one of the most abundant microRNAs secreted by mouse triple-negative breast cancer 4T1 and 4TO7 cells. Treatment with 4T1 EVs leads to an increase in fibroblast activation in isogenic 4TO7 tumours, which is reversed by blocking miR-125b in 4T1 EVs; hence, miR-125b delivery by EVs is responsible for fibroblast activation in mouse tumour models. miR-125b is also secreted by human breast cancer cells and the uptake of EVs from these cells significantly increases cellular levels of miR-125b and expression of multiple cancer-associated fibroblast markers in resident fibroblasts. Overexpression of miR-125b in both mouse and human fibroblasts leads to an activated phenotype similar to the knockdown of established miR-125b target mRNAs. These data indicate that miR-125b is transferred through EVs from breast cancer cells to normal fibroblasts within the tumour microenvironment and contributes to their development into cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Research Area(s)

  • Extracellular vesicles, microRNAs, cancer-associated fibroblasts, breast cancer

Citation Format(s)

Tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles promote the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts via the transfer of microRNA-125b. / Vu, Luyen Tien; Peng, Boya; Zhang, Daniel Xin et al.
In: Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1599680, 2019.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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