Extracellular vesicle secretion of miR-142-3p from lung adenocarcinoma cells induces tumor promoting changes in the stroma through cell-cell communication

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mediators of communication between cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment. EV content is able to influence key tumorigenic changes including invasion, metastasis, and inducing pro-tumor changes in the stroma. MiR-142-3p is a known tumor suppressor in LAC and was recently shown to be enriched within LAC EVs, indicating its potential as a key signaling miRNA. Our research demonstrates the role EV associated miR-142-3p plays when transferred from LAC cells to both endothelial and fibroblast cells. We demonstrate that transfer of miR-142-3p in LAC EVs to endothelial cells promotes angiogenesis through inhibition of TGF beta R1. Additionally, we show EV associated miR-142-3p promotes the cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype in lung fibroblast cells which we show is independent of TGF beta signaling. These findings suggest that miR-142-3p within LAC EVs can be transferred from LAC cells to both endothelial and fibroblast cells to promote tumor associated changes.