Transferred by exosomes-derived MiR-19b-3p targets PTEN to regulate esophageal cancer cell apoptosis, migration and invasion.

Qingxin Zeng,Ziyi Zhu,Zhengfu He,Lijiang Song

doi:10.1042/bsr20201858

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between miR-19b-3p and esophageal cancer (ESCA), and to detect the effects of miR-19b-3p transferred by exosomes on the phenotype of EC9706 cells. The expression of miR-19b-3p was detected by starBase analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The target genes of miR-19b-3p were predicted by TargetScan and further verified by luciferase analysis. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and EMT-related genes were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The effects of miR-19b-3p transferred by exosomes and its target genes on the apoptosis, migration and invasion of EC9706 cells were studied by establishing a co-culture model of donor cells. The expression of miR-19b-3p in ESCA plasma, cells and exosomes was significantly up-regulated. miR-19b-3p transferred by exosomes could significantly reduce EC9706 cells apoptosis rate, promote cell migration and invasion, and could target the inhibition of PTEN expression. PTEN overexpression promoted apoptosis, inhibited cell migration and invasion, down-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and vimentin, and up-regulated E-cadherin expression; however, these effects could be partially reversed by miR-19b-3p. In summary, our results reveal that miR-19b-3p transferred by exosomes can target PTEN to regulate ESCA biological functions in the receptor EC9706 cells.

Highlights

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human health
With in-depth study of the etiology of ESCA, ESCA is currently considered to be a complex disease with multiple factors, multiple genes and multiple stages of development [1,2]
As the molecular mechanism of ESCA development is still not fully elucidated, reliable and accurate molecular markers are still lacking for its early detection and diagnosis [4]

Summary

Introduction

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human health. With the advancement of technology and the development of drug research, the diagnosis and treatment of ESCA have made certain progress [1]. Surgical resection is the main treatment method of ESCA; cancer cell metastasis could still occurred to patients and eventually leads to their deaths after treatment [2]. Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of ESCA treatment failure and patient death [3]. The specific mechanism of ESCA invasion and transfer remains enigmatic [4]. Studying tumor microenvironment may provide a bran-new way for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor

Methods

Results

Conclusion