Publication

Employing mesenchymal stem cells to support tumor-targeted delivery of extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated microRNA-379

O’Brien, K. P.
Khan, S.
Gilligan, K. E.
Zafar, H.
Lalor, P.
Glynn, C.
O’Flatharta, C.
Ingoldsby, H.
Dockery, P.
De Bhulbh, A.
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Citation
O’Brien, K. P., Khan, S., Gilligan, K. E., Zafar, H., Lalor, P., Glynn, C., , O’Flatharta, C., Ingoldsby, H., Dockery, P. De Bhulbh, A., Schweber, J. R., St John, K., Leahy, M., Murphy, J. M., Gallagher, W. M., O’Brien, T., Kerin, M. J., Dwyer, R. M., Dwyer, R. M. (2018). Employing mesenchymal stem cells to support tumor-targeted delivery of extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated microRNA-379. Oncogene, 37(16), 2137-2149. doi: 10.1038/s41388-017-0116-9
Abstract
Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have a well-established tumor-homing capacity, highlighting potential as tumor-targeted delivery vehicles. MSCs secrete extracellular vesicle (EV)-encapsulated microRNAs, which play a role in intercellular communication. The aim of this study was to characterize a potential tumor suppressor microRNA, miR-379, and engineer MSCs to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379 for in vivo therapy of breast cancer. miR-379 expression was significantly reduced in lymph node metastases compared to primary tumor tissue from the same patients. A significant reduction in the rate of tumor formation and growth in vivo was observed in T47D breast cancer cells stably expressing miR-379. In more aggressive HER2-amplified HCC-1954 cells, HCC-379 and HCC-NTC tumor growth rate in vivo was similar, but increased tumor necrosis was observed in HCC-379 tumors. In response to elevated miR-379, COX-2 mRNA and protein was also significantly reduced in vitro and in vivo. MSCs were successfully engineered to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379, with the majority found to be of the appropriate size and morphology of exosomal EVs. Administration of MSC-379 or MSC-NTC cells, or EVs derived from either cell population, resulted in no adverse effects in vivo. While MSC-379 cells did not impact tumor growth, systemic administration of cell-free EVs enriched with miR-379 was demonstrated to have a therapeutic effect. The data presented support miR-379 as a potent tumor suppressor in breast cancer, mediated in part through regulation of COX-2. Exploiting the tumor-homing capacity of MSCs while engineering the cells to secrete EVs enriched with miR-379 holds exciting potential as an innovative therapy for metastatic breast cancer.
Funder
Publisher
Springer Nature
Publisher DOI
10.1038/s41388-017-0116-9
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland