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Extracellular Vesicles as Signal Carriers in Malignant Thyroid Tumors?
Małgorzata Grzanka1, Anna Stachurska-Skrodzka2, Anna Adamiok-Ostrowska1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 25, 2022
Summary
Thyroid cancer extracellular vesicles (EVs) alter normal thyroid cell gene expression and suppress blood vessel formation in vitro. Specific EV sizes may regulate gene expression and angiogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication.
- Thyroid cancer progression involves complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment.
- Understanding how cancer-derived EVs influence normal cells and the microenvironment is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of thyroid cancer-derived EVs on normal thyroid cells (NTHY), monocytes, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).
- To analyze the effects of EVs on cellular properties like proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis.
- To explore the relationship between specific EV characteristics and cellular responses.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of EVs from thyroid cancer cell lines.
- Treatment of NTHY, monocytes, and HUVEC with cancer-derived EVs.
- Analysis of EV size and number using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.
- Assessment of gene expression (qRT-PCR), protein levels (WB), and localization (ICC/IF).
- Evaluation of cell proliferation, migration, and endothelial tube formation assays.
Main Results:
- Thyroid cancer cell lines (CGTH, BcPAP) secreted significantly more EVs than normal thyroid cells (NTHY).
- Cancer-derived EVs altered tetraspanin gene expression in NTHY cells but did not affect their proliferation or migration.
- EVs suppressed endothelial cell tube formation and did not impact monocyte phagocytic activity.
- A negative correlation was observed between 6 μm EVs and CD63/CD81 expression in NTHY cells.
- A positive correlation was found between 6 μm EVs and in vitro angiogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Thyroid cancer-derived EVs can modulate gene expression, specifically tetraspanins, in normal thyroid cells.
- The 6 μm size fraction of cancer-derived EVs may play a role in regulating NTHY gene expression and promoting angiogenesis.
- These findings highlight the potential role of EVs in thyroid cancer pathogenesis and intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment.
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