Hypoxic gastric cancer-derived exosomes promote progression and metastasis via MiR-301a-3p/PHD3/HIF-1α positive feedback loop

Oncogene. 2020 Sep;39(39):6231-6244. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01425-6. Epub 2020 Aug 21.

Abstract

Hypoxic tumor microenvironment(TME) is a universal feature in solid carcinoma and is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Tumor-derived exosomes are now significantly implicating in mediating cellular communication and interactions in TME. The aim of this study was to identify exosomal miR-301a-3p involved in gastric cancer(GC) progression and metastasis. Here, we found hypoxia promote GC exosomes release and miR-301a-3p expression in an HIF-1α-dependent manner. In hypoxic TME, enriched miR-301a-3p could be transmitted between GC cells via exosomes and then contributed to inhibit HIF-1α degradation through targeting PHD3, that were capable to hydroxylate HIF-1α subunits to ubiquitinate degradation. This synergistical positive feedback loop between HIF-1α and miR-301a-3p facilitated GC proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In clinical samples, we further discovered circulating exosomal miR-301a-3p in serum was positively related with peritoneal metastasis. Collectively, these data indicate that GC cells could generate miR-301a-3p-rich exosomes in the hypoxic TME, which then help to HIF-1α accumulation and promote GC malignant behaviors and metastasis. Exosomal miR-301a-3p/HIF-1α signaling axis may serve as a promising predictor and potential therapeutic target of GC with metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prognosis
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • MIRN301A microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • EGLN3 protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases