Cancer-derived exosomal miR-25-3p promotes pre-metastatic niche formation by inducing vascular permeability and angiogenesis

Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 19;9(1):5395. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07810-w.

Abstract

Cancer-derived exosomes are considered a major driver of cancer-induced pre-metastatic niche formation at foreign sites, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that miR-25-3p, a metastasis-promoting miRNA of colorectal cancer (CRC), can be transferred from CRC cells to endothelial cells via exosomes. Exosomal miR-25-3p regulates the expression of VEGFR2, ZO-1, occludin and Claudin5 in endothelial cells by targeting KLF2 and KLF4, consequently promotes vascular permeability and angiogenesis. In addition, exosomal miR-25-3p from CRC cells dramatically induces vascular leakiness and enhances CRC metastasis in liver and lung of mice. Moreover, the expression level of miR-25-3p from circulating exosomes is significantly higher in CRC patients with metastasis than those without metastasis. Our work suggests that exosomal miR-25-3p is involved in pre-metastatic niche formation and may be used as a blood-based biomarker for CRC metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood
  • Capillary Permeability*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Exosomes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic*
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • KLF2 protein, human
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Klf4 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • MIRN25 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs