Large oncosomes mediate intercellular transfer of functional microRNA

M Morello, V Minciacchi, P de Candia, J Yang… - Cell cycle, 2013 - Taylor & Francis
M Morello, V Minciacchi, P de Candia, J Yang, E Posadas, H Kim, D Griffiths, N Bhowmick
Cell cycle, 2013Taylor & Francis
Prostate cancer cells release atypically large extracellular vesicles (EVs), termed large
oncosomes, which may play a role in the tumor microenvironment by transporting bioactive
molecules across tissue spaces and through the blood stream. In this study, we applied a
novel method for selective isolation of large oncosomes applicable to human platelet-poor
plasma, where the presence of caveolin-1-positive large oncosomes identified patients with
metastatic disease. This procedure was also used to validate results of a miRNA array …
Prostate cancer cells release atypically large extracellular vesicles (EVs), termed large oncosomes, which may play a role in the tumor microenvironment by transporting bioactive molecules across tissue spaces and through the blood stream. In this study, we applied a novel method for selective isolation of large oncosomes applicable to human platelet-poor plasma, where the presence of caveolin-1-positive large oncosomes identified patients with metastatic disease. This procedure was also used to validate results of a miRNA array performed on heterogeneous populations of EVs isolated from tumorigenic RWPE-2 prostate cells and from isogenic non-tumorigenic RWPE-1 cells. The results showed that distinct classes of miRNAs are expressed at higher levels in EVs derived from the tumorigenic cells in comparison to their non-tumorigenic counterpart. Large oncosomes enhanced migration of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), an effect that was increased by miR-1227, a miRNA abundant in large oncosomes produced by RWPE-2 cells. Our findings suggest that large oncosomes in the circulation report metastatic disease in patients with prostate cancer, and that this class of EV harbors functional molecules that may play a role in conditioning the tumor microenvironment.
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