miR-504 modulates the stemness and mesenchymal transition of glioma stem cells and their interaction with microglia via delivery by extracellular vesicles

Ariel Bier, Xin Hong, Simona Cazacu, Hodaya Goldstein, Daniel Rand, Cunli Xiang, Wei Jiang, Hiba Waldman Ben-Asher, Moshe Attia, Aharon Brodie, Ruicong She, Laila M. Poisson, Chaya Brodie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. A small subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) has been implicated in radiation resistance and tumor recurrence. In this study we analyzed the expression of miRNAs associated with the functions of GSCs using miRNA microarray analysis of these cells compared with human neural stem cells. These analyses identified gene clusters associated with glioma cell invasiveness, axonal guidance, and TGF-β signaling. miR-504 was significantly downregulated in GSCs compared with NSCs, its expression was lower in GBM compared with normal brain specimens and further decreased in the mesenchymal glioma subtype. Overexpression of miR-504 in GSCs inhibited their self-renewal, migration and the expression of mesenchymal markers. The inhibitory effect of miR-504 was mediated by targeting Grb10 expression which acts as an oncogene in GSCs and GBM. Overexpression of exogenous miR-504 resulted also in its delivery to cocultured microglia by GSC-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) and in the abrogation of the GSC-induced polarization of microglia to M2 subtype. Finally, miR-504 overexpression prolonged the survival of mice harboring GSC-derived xenografts and decreased tumor growth. In summary, we identified miRNAs and potential target networks that play a role in the stemness and mesenchymal transition of GSCs and the miR-504/Grb10 pathway as an important regulator of this process. Overexpression of miR-504 exerted antitumor effects in GSCs as well as bystander effects on the polarization of microglia via delivery by EVs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number899
JournalCell Death and Disease
Volume11
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

Funding

We thank Dr. Hae Kyung Lee and Susan Finniss for their technical support and Susan McPhee for her diligent editing of the manuscript. This work was supported by the William and Karen Davidson Fund, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center and by ICRF (C.B.).

FundersFunder number
Hermelin Brain Tumor Center
William and Karen Davidson Fund
Israel Cancer Research Fund

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