Objective:Intratumoral heterogeneity refers to the presence of distinct subpopulations of cancer cells within a single tumor,which exhibits variations in phenotypic traits,such as proliferation rate,drug sensitivity,a...Objective:Intratumoral heterogeneity refers to the presence of distinct subpopulations of cancer cells within a single tumor,which exhibits variations in phenotypic traits,such as proliferation rate,drug sensitivity,and metastatic potential.Dynamic interactions among heterogeneous cell populations have a critical role in tumor progression.Increasing evidence underscores the importance of intercellular communication among heterogeneous cancer cell subpopulations in driving malignancy.However,the molecular mechanisms governing such cancer cell-to-cancer cell interactions are poorly understood.Methods:Exosomes were isolated from highly metastatic breast cancer cells(HM-BCCs)and low metastatic breast cancer cells(LM-BCCs).The role of exosome-mediated intercellular communication on metastatic behavior was assessed using wound healing and Transwell assays.Gene knockdown and overexpression strategies,small-molecule inhibitors,and xenograft mouse models were used to elucidate the role of exosomal EPHA2.Results:Exosomes derived from HM-BCCs considerably enhanced the migratory and invasive capabilities of LM-BCCs in vitro and increased the metastatic potential in vivo.Mechanistically,EPHA2 was identified as a key protein enriched in exosomes from HM-BCCs and was shown to be transferred to LM-BCCs by these vesicles.Exosomal EPHA2 promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in LM-BCCs when internalized by stabilizing TGF-βRI and activating the transforming growth factor-β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(TGF-β/SMAD3)signaling pathway,thereby facilitating the acquisition of a metastatic phenotype.Conclusions:The results underscore the pivotal function of exosomal EPHA2 in mediating the transfer of metastatic potential among heterogeneous breast cancer cell populations.Targeting the EPHA2-TGF-βRI signaling axis may provide a novel therapeutic approach for preventing or limiting breast cancer metastasis.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.82573172,82472996,82073085,and 82203687).
摘要Objective:Intratumoral heterogeneity refers to the presence of distinct subpopulations of cancer cells within a single tumor,which exhibits variations in phenotypic traits,such as proliferation rate,drug sensitivity,and metastatic potential.Dynamic interactions among heterogeneous cell populations have a critical role in tumor progression.Increasing evidence underscores the importance of intercellular communication among heterogeneous cancer cell subpopulations in driving malignancy.However,the molecular mechanisms governing such cancer cell-to-cancer cell interactions are poorly understood.Methods:Exosomes were isolated from highly metastatic breast cancer cells(HM-BCCs)and low metastatic breast cancer cells(LM-BCCs).The role of exosome-mediated intercellular communication on metastatic behavior was assessed using wound healing and Transwell assays.Gene knockdown and overexpression strategies,small-molecule inhibitors,and xenograft mouse models were used to elucidate the role of exosomal EPHA2.Results:Exosomes derived from HM-BCCs considerably enhanced the migratory and invasive capabilities of LM-BCCs in vitro and increased the metastatic potential in vivo.Mechanistically,EPHA2 was identified as a key protein enriched in exosomes from HM-BCCs and was shown to be transferred to LM-BCCs by these vesicles.Exosomal EPHA2 promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in LM-BCCs when internalized by stabilizing TGF-βRI and activating the transforming growth factor-β/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(TGF-β/SMAD3)signaling pathway,thereby facilitating the acquisition of a metastatic phenotype.Conclusions:The results underscore the pivotal function of exosomal EPHA2 in mediating the transfer of metastatic potential among heterogeneous breast cancer cell populations.Targeting the EPHA2-TGF-βRI signaling axis may provide a novel therapeutic approach for preventing or limiting breast cancer metastasis.