Investigating the Effects of Chordoma Cell-Derived Exosomes on the Tumorigenicity of Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Abstract

Objective Interaction of tumor cells with the surrounding environment is essential for tumor growth and progression that eventually leads to metastasis. Growing evidence shows that extracellular vesicles (EVs) also known as exosomes play a crucial role in signalling between the tumor and its microenvironment. Tumor-derived exosomes have generally pro tumorigenic effects such as metastasis, hypoxia, angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods In this study, exosomes were isolated from a chordoma cell line, MUG-Chor1, and characterized subsequently. The number of exosomes were determined and introduced into the healthy nucleus pulposus (NP) cells for 140 days. The pro-tumorigenic effects of a chordoma cell line-derived exosomes that initiate the tumorigenesis on NP cells were investigated. The impact of tumor-derived exosomes on various cellular events including cell cycle, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and viability have been studied by treating NP cells with chordoma cell-line derived exosomes cells. Results Upon treatment with exosomes, the NP cells not only gained a chordoma-like morphology but also molecular characteristics such as alterations in the levels of certain gene expressions. The migratory and angiogenic capabilities of NP cells increased after treated with chordoma-derived exosomes. Conclusion Based on our findings, we can conclude that exosomes carry information from tumor cells and may exert tumorigenic effects on non-tumorous cells.