Exosomal miR‐24‐3p impedes T‐cell function by targeting FGF11 and serves as a potential prognostic biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that extracellular microRNAs are not only potential biomarkers but are also involved in cell interactions to regulate the intercommunication between cancer cells and their microenvironments in various types of malignancies. In this study, we isolated exosomes from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and patient sera (T-EXOs), or control NP69 cells and healthy donor sera (HD-EXOs). We found that miR-24-3p was markedly enriched in T-EXOs as compared with HD-EXOs; the serum exosomal miR-24-3p level was correlated with worse disease-free survival of patients (p < 0.05). Knockdown of exosomal miR-24-3p (miR-24-3p-sponge-T-EXOs) by a sponge RNA targeting miR-24-3p restored the T-EXO-mediated (control-sponge-T-EXO) inhibition of T-cell proliferation and Th1 and Th17 differentiation, and the induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Mechanistic analyses revealed that administration of exosomal miR-24-3p increased P-ERK, P-STAT1 and P-STAT3 expression while decreasing P-STAT5 expression during T-cell proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, by in vivo and in vitro assessments, we found FGF11 to be a direct target of miR-24-3p. However, both miR-24-3p-sponge-T-EXOs and T-EXOs (control-sponge-T-EXOs) impeded proliferation and Th1 and Th17 differentiation, but induced Treg differentiation, of lenti-shFGF11-transfected T cells. The levels of phosphorylated ERK and STAT proteins were different in lenti-ScshRNA-transfected T cells and lenti-shFGF11-transfected T cells following administration of miR-24-3p-sponge-T-EXO. Interestingly, tumour FGF11 expression was positively correlated with the number of CD4 and CD8 T cells in vivo, and predicted favourable patient DFS (p < 0.05). Additionally, hypoxia increased cellular and exosomal miR-24-3p levels and enhanced the inhibitory effect of T-EXO on T-cell proliferation and differentiation. Collectively, our findings suggest that exosomal miR-24-3p is involved in tumour pathogenesis by mediating T-cell suppression via repression of FGF11, and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in NPC. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SWATH-based proteomics identified carbonic anhydrase 2 as a potential diagnosis biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…As NPC is highly correlated to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, EBV viral RNAs (miRNAs56, long non-coding RNAs7) and proteins are of diagnostic powers. In clinical practice, EBV capsid antigen IgA (VCA-IgA), early antigen Ig A (EA-IgA), nuclear antigen (EBNA1) IgA, and circulating EBV DNA are widely used for diagnosis and screening of NPC8910.…”

Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Associated MicroRNAs in Intercellular Communication: One Cell’s Trash Is Another Cell’s Treasure

“…For example, regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subset of CD4 + T cells recruited by cancer cells to evade the immune system [131], can be recruited via EV-signals sent out by cancer cells. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells shed EVs enriched with miR-24-3p, which influences the differentiation of T cells and their ability to engage Treg cells [132,133]. Similarly, Lewis lung carcinoma cells transfer miR-214 in EVs to T cells, downregulating Phosphate and Tensin Homolog protein (PTEN) and promoting Treg expansion [134].…”

Exosomes: A Novel Strategy for Treatment and Prevention of Diseases

“…As examples of the other major research focus of exosomes, miRNAs in salivary exosomes are considered potential biomarkers of aging (Machida et al, 2015), while exosomes from a tumor microenvironment are prominently associated with cancer cell metabolism (Zhao et al, 2016). Exosomes containing miR-24-3p depress T cell function and may serve as a prognostic marker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Ye et al, 2016). In addition, a recent study found that bovine milk-derived exosomes can be used for oral delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel, which elevates drug stability and reduces systemic and immunogenic toxicities compared to administering the drug alone (Agrawal et al, 2017).…”