Exosomal miR‐221 derived from hydroquinone‐transformed malignant human bronchial epithelial cells is involved in cell viability of recipient cells

Abstract

miR‐221, an oncogenic microRNA, can promote cell proliferation and is highly expressed in various types of tumors. However, the role of exosomal miR‐221 in benzene‐caused carcinogenesis remains elusive. Our study was designed to investigate whether exosomes secreted by the hydroquinone (HQ; an active metabolite of benzene)‐transformed malignant cells can transmit miR‐221 to normal recipient cells and its possible effects on cell viability. Our investigation revealed that expression levels of miR‐221 were significantly increased in HQ‐transformed malignant cells relative to normal controls. Furthermore, exposure of control cells to exosomes that were derived from HQ‐transformed malignant cells increased miR‐221 levels and promoted their proliferation. Analyses of the biological potency of exosomes derived from HQ‐transformed malignant cells in which miR‐221 levels were decreased using an inhibitor, showed that both miR‐221 levels and proliferation of recipient cells were decreased, but still were higher than those of normal 16HBE cells. Our study indicates that exosomal miR‐221 derived from HQ‐transformed malignant human bronchial epithelial cells is involved in the proliferation of recipient cells.

Exosomes of A549 Cells Induced Migration, Invasion, and EMT of BEAS-2B Cells Related to let-7c-5p and miR-181b-5p

“…Numerous current research have proved that exosomes secreted by donor cells can transmit bioactive substance to neighboring cells to influence their characteristic and reprogram the phenotypes of recipient cells, with the potential to modulate carcinogenic consequences ( 54 , 55 ). Exosomes derived from HQ-transformed malignant cells were proven to be able to transmit miR-221 to normal recipient cells to promote cell viability ( 56 ). Exosomes isolated from patients with sepsis lung injury were proven to cause lung bronchial epithelial cell injury through miR-1298-5p and its target SOCS6 via regulating STAT3 signaling pathway ( 57 ).…”

Proteomics profiling of epithelium-derived exosomes from nasal polyps revealed signaling functions affecting cellular proliferation

“…Exosomes have been now widely accepted as carriers of vital molecules, such as a diversity of proteins, RNA and lipids, and can trigger lots of crucial physiological and pathological processes [29,30]. Exosomes secreted can be rapidly uptake by surrounding cells and the cargo in the exosome can therefore exert effects on cells that pick up the exosomes, hence achieving signaling functions [31,32]. In addition, it also have been reported the existence of exosomes in human NLF [33] and implicated in airway inflammatory diseases such as allergic rhinitis [34] and asthma [35].…”

Exosomal secretion may be a self‐protective mechanism of its source cells under environmental stress: A study on human bronchial epithelial cells treated with hydroquinone

“…Exosomes secreted by normal 16HBE cells weakened the ability of proliferation and migration of recipient malignant 16HBE cells through transferring PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) (Lian et al, 2020). Normal 16HBE cells could be malignantly transformed when treated with HQ and exosomal miR‐221 derived from HQ‐transformed malignant 16HBE cells was associated with the elevated ability of the proliferation of normal recipient cells (Ran Jiang et al, 2020). HQ could regulate the immune response by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation via blocking DNA synthesis (Costa‐Amaral et al, 2019).…”

“…The differential ultracentrifugation was carried out to isolate the exosomes from different groups of cells as previously described by our team (Ran, Jiang et al, 2020). In brief, cells were seeded on to 10 cm 2 culture plates and cultured with 100 mL serum‐free conditioned culture medium for 3 days for exosomal isolation.…”

“…Yet, until now, the mechanisms underlying its toxicity remain largely unclear. Our previous study showed that exosomes play an important role in cell‐to‐cell communication during the progress of toxicity induced by bioactive metabolites of benzene (Ran Jiang et al, 2020).…”