17β-estradiol promotes extracellular vesicle release and selective miRNA loading in ERα-positive breast cancer

Rares Drula, Barbara Pardini, Xiao Fu, Mireia Cruz De los Santos, Ancuta Jurj, Lan Pang, Sherien M. El-Daly, Linda Fabris, Erik Knutsen, Mihnea P. Dragomir, Recep Bayraktar, Yongfeng Li, Meng Chen, Filippo Del Vecchio, Léa Berland, Jessica Dae, Daniel Fan, Masayoshi Shimizu, Anh M. Tran, Mercedes BarziCarlotta Pioppini, Angelica M. Gutierrez, Cristina Ivan, Salyna Meas, Carolyn S. Hall, Suresh K. Alahari, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe, Muller Fabbri, Anthony Lucci, Banu Arun, Simone Anfossi, George A. Calin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The causes and consequences of abnormal biogenesis of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are not yet well understood in malignancies, including in breast cancers (BCs). Given the hormonal signaling dependence of estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) BC, we hypothesized that 17β-estradiol (estrogen) might influence EV production and microRNA (miRNA) loading. We report that physiological doses of 17β-estradiol promote EV secretion specifically from ER+ BC cells via inhibition of miR-149-5p, hindering its regulatory activity on SP1, a transcription factor that regulates the EV biogenesis factor nSMase2. Additionally, miR-149-5p downregulation promotes hnRNPA1 expression, responsible for the loading of let-7’s miRNAs into EVs. In multiple patient cohorts, we observed increased levels of let-7a-5p and let-7d-5p in EVs derived from the blood of premenopausal ER+ BC patients, and elevated EV levels in patients with high BMI, both conditions associated with higher levels of 17β-estradiol. In brief, we identified a unique estrogen-driven mechanism by which ER+ BC cells eliminate tumor suppressor miRNAs in EVs, with effects on modulating tumor-associated macrophages in the microenvironment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume120
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • breast cancer
  • estrogen receptor
  • exosomes
  • extracellular vesicles
  • microRNAs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Advanced Technology Genomics Core

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