An extracellular vesicular mutant KRAS‐associated protein complex promotes lung inflammation and tumor growth

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain more than 100 proteins. Whether there are EVs proteins that act as an ‘organiser’ of protein networks to generate a new or different biological effect from that identified in EV‐producing cells has never been demonstrated. Here, as a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS serves as a leader that forms a protein complex and promotes lung inflammation and tumour growth via the Fn1/IL‐17A/FGF21 axis. Mechanistically, in contrast to cytosol derived G12D‐mutant KRAS complex from EVs‐producing cells, EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS interacts with a group of extracellular vesicular factors via fibronectin‐1 (Fn1), which drives the activation of the IL‐17A/FGF21 inflammation pathway in EV recipient cells. We show that: (i), depletion of EV‐Fn1 leads to a reduction of a number of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐17A; (ii) induction of IL‐17A promotes lung inflammation, which in turn leads to IL‐17A mediated induction of FGF21 in the lung; and (iii) EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS complex mediated lung inflammation is abrogated in IL‐17 receptor KO mice. These findings establish a new concept in EV function with potential implications for novel therapeutic interventions in EV‐mediated disease processes.

Exploring the role of obesity-induced extracellular vesicles secretion and associated oncogenic proteins in endometrial cancer pathogenesis.

“…Recent investigations have unveiled the role of adipocytes from obese patients in secreting EVs carrying oncogenic proteins, thereby increasing the incidence of cancer [9][10][11]. EVs, originating from adipose tissue, play a pivotal role in mediating communication between adipocytes and neighboring cells [27][28][29]. Nevertheless, the impact of obesity-mediated signaling pathways involving EVs secretion on the development of EC and its progression to carcinoma remains a subject of uncertainty.…”