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Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
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Exosomal microRNA-15a from ACHN cells aggravates clear cell renal cell carcinoma via the BTG2/PI3K/AKT axis

Dao-Yuan Li1, Fei-Fei Lin2, Guo-Ping Li1

  • 1Department of Urology, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, China.

The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
|August 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) drive clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression. This study reveals exosomal miR-15a promotes ccRCC by downregulating BTG2 and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, offering a potential therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) pathogenesis.
  • The specific mechanisms by which miRNAs contribute to early-stage ccRCC remain largely undefined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of exosomal miR-15a in ccRCC.
  • To identify the downstream targets and signaling pathways regulated by exosomal miR-15a in ccRCC.

Main Methods:

  • Exosome isolation from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR to measure miR-15a expression.
  • Luciferase reporter assay to confirm BTG2 as a miR-15a target.
  • Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays.
  • Western blotting to assess PI3K/AKT pathway activity.

Main Results:

  • miR-15a was found to be upregulated in ccRCC cells and exosomes.
  • Overexpression of miR-15a promoted ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
  • B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) was identified as a direct target of miR-15a and was downregulated in ccRCC.
  • BTG2 overexpression reversed the pro-tumorigenic effects of miR-15a and inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Exosomal miR-15a accelerates ccRCC progression by downregulating BTG2 and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
  • Exosomal miR-15a represents a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for ccRCC.
Keywords:
B-cell translocation gene 2PI3K/AKT pathwayclear cell renal cell carcinomaexosomesmicroRNA-15a

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