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Published on: May 24, 2019
Impaired Cellular Cholesterol Homeostasis Decreases Tumor-Derived Exosome Load And Modulates Malignant Transformation
Syed Sultan Beevi1, Aishwarya Sudam Bhale2, Vinod Kumar Verma3
1Cancer Biology Division, KIMS Foundation and Research Center, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospitals, Secunderabad, Telangana, India. drsyedsultan.b@kfrc.co.in.
Cholesterol accumulation in cancer cells reduces tumor-derived exosome release, hindering their ability to promote malignant transformation and metastasis. This suggests targeting cholesterol homeostasis is a promising strategy against cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
- Molecular Oncology
Background:
- Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) facilitate oncogenic information transfer.
- Cellular cholesterol homeostasis influences exosome biogenesis and release.
- MDA-MB231 and HEK293 cell lines were utilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of cholesterol accumulation on TDEs.
- To assess the oncogenic potential of TDEs from cholesterol-altered cells.
- To explore cholesterol homeostasis modulation as a cancer therapy strategy.
Main Methods:
- U18666A was used to induce cholesterol accumulation in MDA-MB231 cells.
- Exosomes were isolated from treated and untreated cells.
- HEK293 cells were treated with exosomes to assess malignant transformation.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol accumulation reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MDA-MB231 cells.
- U18666A treatment reduced TDE release and their oncogenic potential.
- TDEs from treated cells failed to induce malignant transformation in HEK293 cells.
Conclusions:
- Modulating cholesterol homeostasis restrains TDE release.
- Disrupting cholesterol supply to cancer cells reduces TDE oncogenicity.
- Targeting cholesterol homeostasis is a potential strategy to inhibit cancer metastasis.
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