The Multiple Roles of Exosomes in Metastasis

General Features of Exosomes

Exosomes are spherical to cup-shaped nanovesicles 40-100 nm in diameter, that are secreted by many cells and can be found in most body fluids such as urine and blood as well as in supernatants of cultured cells (13). They are end-products of the recycling endosomal pathway which involves endocytosis, formation of early and late endosomes, multivesicular bodies (MVB) and secretion with the help of Rab family GTPases such as Rab 27a and Rab 27b (14). Exosomes have to be differentiated from other secreted cellular entities such as microvesicles (50-1,000 nm in diameter) and ectosomes, which are microvesicles derived from neutrophils or monocytes and apoptotic bodies (500-2,000 nm in diameter). In contrast to exosomes they bud off directly from the cell membrane (15). Exosomes consist of a lipid bilayer, transmembrane and non-membrane bound proteins and nucleic acids. Lipids (e.g. cholesterol and ceramide), membrane fusion-related proteins (Rab GTPases, flotillins and connexins), proteins involved in vesicle formation (Alix, Tsg 101), integral membrane proteins such as tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, CD 81) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II as well as proteins related to the cytoskeleton and the cell metabolism have been identified (16). Also proteins involved in the pathogenesis of cancer such as oncoproteins MET and mutant KRAS have been found in exosomes (17, 18). As nucleic acid-related cargo, mRNA, miRNA, long non-coding RNAs as well as DNA have been detected (19). Exosomes can transfer their constituents and cargo to neighbouring or distant cells with preservation of their function (20). Several mechanisms for the uptake of exosomes by recipient cells, such as exosome fusion with the membrane of the recipient cell, endocytosis by phagocytosis and receptor-ligand interaction (Tim1/4 on B cells, ICAM-1 on antigen-presenting cells) have been discussed (20-22).

In order to elucidate the mode of action of exosomes and their constituents, tracking of exosomes in vitro and in vivo is essential. This can be achieved by two different technologies (23). The first one is based on incorporation of small fluorophores into the membrane of exosomes resulting in strong fluorescent signals in the exosome membrane. However, this technology is restricted to the use of purified exosomes. The second one is based on expression of fusion proteins between exosome marker transmembrane proteins such as CD63 and fluorescent proteins (GFP and/or red fluorescent protein RFP) which are expressed in transfected cells and incorporated into exosomes allowing their tracing. The latter technology has allowed for visualization of transfer of tumor-derived exosomes to cells of the tumor-microenvironment, distant sites and blood in tumor-bearing mice (23, 24).

Exosomes may have a significant impact on cancer diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The detection of exosomes containing Glypican-1, a glycosylphosphadidylinositol anchored proteoglycan, in the blood of patients with precancerous pancreatic lesions and not in those with benign pancreatic lesions is an example emphasizing this issue (25).

Exosomes – Functions in Cancer

It has been noted that cancer cells secrete much higher amounts of exosomes in comparison to non-transformed cells (26). Exosomes are involved in initiation, growth, progression and drug-resistance of tumors involving interactions with the microenvironment by transferring oncogenic proteins and nucleic acids (15, 19, 27, 28). Their role in metastasis will be discussed in the following chapters. Here, we briefly comment on selected additional important functions of exosomes in cancer. The generation of an immuno-suppressive environment is an important issue for the pathogenesis of tumors. Exosomes have been shown to be implicated in induction of apoptosis of cytotoxic T-cells, expansion and function of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), induction of M2 polarization of macrophages, inhibition of cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells, inhibition of differentiation of dendritic cells (DC), expansion and activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and mobilization of neutrophils (27, 28). Exosomes released under hypoxic conditions can stimulate angiogenesis through interactions with endothelial cells (EC) (29). Exosomal transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) can induce differentiation of fibroblasts into tumor-supporting myofibroblasts (30) and exosomes from ovarian cancer are able to convert adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into myofibroblast-like cells, supporting tumor growth and angiogenesis (31). Angiogenesis and myofibroblast-related aspects in the context of metastasis will be discussed in more detail in the following chapters. Recently, a role of breast cancer-secreted exosomes in tumorigenesis was demonstrated (32). These exosomes were shown to contain pre-miRNA associated with the RNA-induced silencing loading complex (RISC). They could mature pre-miRNA into miRNA in a cell-independent manner. Due to silencing of mRNAs in non-malignant target cells, their genome was re-programmed. Exosomes derived from patients with breast cancer were found to instigate non-tumorigenic epithelial cells to form tumors in mice in a Dicer-dependent manner (32). Further implications of these challenging findings remain to be investigated. In addition, exosomes derived from MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells and U87 glioblastoma cells were able to induce transformation of recipient fibroblasts, dependent on continuous supply of exosomes (33). The phenomenon is caused by tissue transglutaminase cross-linked fibronectin (FN) in cancer vesicles, which activates mitogenic signaling. Another important aspect is the role of exosomes as mediators of drug resistance. Transfer of multi-drug resistant protein Pgp to drug-sensitive cells conferring drug-resistent properties and directing cytotoxic drugs such as cisplatin away from the nucleus have been reported (34, 35). Stromal derived exosomes were shown to regulate therapy resistance pathways in breast cancer cells (36). Expansion of chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells was mediated by activation of the pattern recognition receptor RIG-1, which triggers STAT-1 signaling (antiviral) and induces the interaction of stromal JAG-1 with Notch3 on breast cancer cells (36). In the following chapters we focus on the role of exosomes in tumor metastases.

Exosomes Derived from Cancer Cells as Mediators of Migration and Invasion

Migration and invasion is a prerequisite for metastasis (37, 38). We discuss here cancer cell migration and invasion promoting effects due to cancer-cell derived exosomes. Migration and invasion of cancer cells mediated by stromal-cell related exosomes are covered in the following chapters of this review.

The possible role of breast cancer cell released exosomes in metastasis was supported by the demonstration that exosomes from intermediate-metastatic (MCF-7 transfected with Rab27) and highly metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) could transfer invasion-promoting properties to tumorigenic, but not metastatic MCF-7 breast cancer cells (39). miR-10b was identified as an important component promoting invasion of breast cancer cells (40). Transfer of MDA-MB 231 overexpressed miR-10b in exosomes to immortalized mammary epithelial cells (HMLE) induced invasion in this cell line. Also exosome-mediated activation of EGFR-signaling by its ligands was identified as a pathway supporting cancer cell invasion (41). Amphiregulin-expressing exosomes derived from Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells increased invasiveness of recipient breast cancer cell lines four-fold over TGFα or heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor exosomes and five-fold over equivalent amounts of recombinant amphiregulin. Another study has identified exosomes as mediators of plasmin-dependent cell motility of breast cancer cells (42). In this context a complex consisting of hsp90α, tissue-type plasminogen activator and annexin II was identified in breast cancer-derived exosomes which mediated plasmin activation. Metastasis is a process promoted by the interplay of invasive tumor cells and motile host cells (43-45). The impact of cancer cell-derived exosomes on host cells was investigated in a rat pancreatic carcinoma cell (ASML)-based system (46). Exosomes derived from this cell line were shown to modulate the ECM of rat host cells such as lung fibroblasts, lymph node stromal cells and aorta endothelial cells by degradation of ECM components such as collagens, laminin and fibronectin due to their protease-based cargo. It was shown that exosome-modulated ECM promotes stromal cell proliferation, migration and survival by inducing resistance against apoptosis. Modulation of the ECM creates new space for migrating tumor cells and attracts tumor, stroma and inflammatory cells and is possibly involved in liberation of chemokines and growth factors (47).

Concept of Pre- and Metastatic Niche

In order to understand the role of exosomes in metastasis, to be discussed in the following chapters of this review, we outline here the concept of the pre- and metastatic niche. The notion metastatic niche has been coined to describe the establisment and bookmarking of a conducive microenvironment in distant organs that enables survival and outgrowth as a “landing dock” for DTCs (48-51). Experimental evidence suggests that metastatic niches are initiated by an interplay of factors secreted by tumor cells, the recruitment of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) as well as myeloid cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from the bone marrow, enabling engraftment of DTCs, and subsequently their outgrowth promoted by endothelial precursor cells (EPC) and finally angiogenic factors. Initial work has focussed on premetastatic niche formation in the lungs with B16 melanoma cells and Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells (52, 53). The instigators and promoters of niche formation are dependent on the experimental models involving the type of tumors cells and the distant organs to be colonized.

A brief summary of temporal and spatial events in niche generation is described in the following. Tumor-derived secreted factors (TDSF) secreted in part due to activation by HIF-1α, a transcription factor regulating expression of hypoxia-related genes, are able to initiate and regulate formation of pre-metastatic niches in distant organs (54). TDSFs include pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF-A and PLGF, inflammation-promoting cytokines and chemokines such as TNFα, TGFβ, SDF-1 and CCL2/MCP1 (48-51). The existence of a premetastatic niche was first demonstrated by the seminal work of Kaplan et al. (52). Bone marrow (BM)-derived HPCs expressing VEGFR1 were shown to precede arrival of DTCs at distant sites in the lungs. S100A8 and S100A9 acting as inflammatory chemoattractants and inducers of inflammatory pathways were identified as key molecules for implementation of metastatic niches (55, 56). They act as inducers of serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) which mediates accumulation of CD11⁺ myeloid cells via interaction with TLR4 and stimulation of NF-ĸB signaling (57). Recruitment of CD11⁺ myeloid cells to metastatic sites is further promoted by LOX activity which cross-links collagen type IV, thereby acting as a substrate for adherence of CD11⁺ myeloid cells (58, 59). Deposition of FN, tenascin C, periostin and versican by recruited myeloid cells is another important step in formation of metastatic niches (52, 60-62). The creation of an immune sanctuary at metastatic sites is a complimentary strategy for survival of DTC in the niche. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) derived from HPC have been shown to accumulate in metastatic niches and to suppress cytotoxic CD8⁺ T-cells through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as NK cell cytotoxicity and maturity (63). Cancer-associated fibroflasts (CAFs), derived from MSCs contribute to niche formation by excessive deposition of constituents of the ECM, by secretion of MMPs that mediate degradation and remodeling of the ECM as well as by promoting proliferation, invasion and motility of niche-related tumor cells (64). In the course of the maturation of the pre-metastatic niche, DTCs are recruited to the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) for example by interaction between niche-derived SDF-1 and CXCR4 on tumor cells (48-50). Activation of the angiogenic switch by secretion of pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF-A and PLGF and the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) expressing VEGFR2, as a prerequiste of their outgrowth (65). In contrast to these findings, da Palma et al. (66, 67) reported that Tie-2 expressing monocytes (TEMs) homed to metastatic tumors and interacted with vascular endothelial cells promoting their growth. The reasons for the discrepancy of these findings have not yet been resolved.

Importantly, bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) clusters consisting of VEGFR1⁺ EPC have been observed in both primary tumors and premetastatic tissue in patients with breast-, lung- and esophageal carcinoma (52). In the following we discuss examples for identification and functional roles of metastatic niches. The concept of the generation of pre- and metastatic niches involving the interplay of different types of cells including tumor cells, exosomes and secreted factors, is outlined in Figure 1.

Pre-metastatic Niche of Melanoma in Lymph Nodes

The process of preconditioning of sentinel lymph nodes by melanoma exosomes as a prerequisite for recruitment and growth of melanoma cells was investigated (68). B16 melanoma cell exosomes were injected into the footpads of mice and lymph nodes were dissected and frozen for further analysis, which revealed a well-defined sequence of events. First, melanoma exosomes derived from the primary tumor are recruited to sentinal lymph nodes with a microenvironment consisting of endothelial cells (EC), lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Subsequently, ECM factors are produced, angiogenesis is initiated, lymphocyte anergy is induced and MDSC are generated from myeloid cells and melanoma cells are recruited to sites covered with exosomes in the lymph nodes, deposited and their further blood supply is established. Transcriptional analysis has revealed that exosome-dependent lymph node metastasis is driven by multiple metastatic pathways. Three groups of genes with functions in cell recruitment, ECM formation and angiogenesis have been identified (68). Genes encoding factors responsible for recruitment of melanoma cells such as stabilin 1 (69), ephrin receptor β4 (70) and vitronectin (71) were up-regulated. Additional up-regulated genes identified are involved in remodeling of stroma such as collagen 18 (72), laminin 5 (73), uPA (74) and p38 (75), enabling trapping of melanoma cells in the lymph nodes. Finally, up-regulation of angiogenic factors such as VEGF isoforms (76), which are induced by melanoma cells by hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), was noted (77). Interestingly, further analysis of data revealed simultaneous up-regulation of angiogenesis promoting and immuno-suppressive factors such as GM-CSF and TNFα (78).

CD44v6-promoted Metastatic Niche Formation in a Rat Pancreatic Tumor Model

Rat metastasis models based on intrafoot pad injection of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma BSp73ASML(wt) and weakly metastasizing cell line ASML(kd) knockdown of CD44v4-7 (79), conditioned media (CM) and their fractions such as exosomes and soluble matrix was the basis for the study of premetastatic niches in the lymph nodes and the lungs (80). ASML(wt) CM, but not ASML(kd) CM promoted recruitment of ASML(kd) cells to the lymph nodes and the lungs. Complementation experiments with exosomes from ASML(kd) cells and soluble matrix fractions from CD44v6-containing ASML(wt) cells have identified exosomes as the final actors of pre-metastatic niche formation. In this system, corresponding changes in the pre-metastatic organs were observed only when both exosomes and CD44v6 containing soluble matrix were co-injected. In other words, exosomes independent of their origin from poorly or highly metastatic cells mediate tumor cell embedding and growth in pre-metastatic niches in a CD44v6-dependent manner. The fact that CD44v6, c-MET and uPAR are highly expressed in exosomes and soluble fractions of ASML(wt) cells and are absent in corresponding fractions of ASML(kd) cells, resulted in a hypothesis how these components might be involved in pre-metastatic niche formation. It was previously observed that CD44v6 can initiate c-MET activation through HGF binding (81, 82). Therefore, in the absence of CD44v6, c-MET activation might be compromized, resulting in reduced transcription of c-MET and genes regulated by c-MET (81, 82). It was shown that uPAR expression is regulated by c-MET at the mRNA and protein level (83, 84). Binding of uPA to uPAR resulting in plasminogen activation and uPAR-mediated signaling through its association with integrins, EGFR, PDGFR and vitronectin and following activation of signal transducing kinases such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), src and Akt (80) might contribute to (pre-)metastatic niche formation. The suggested interplay was supported by co-precipitation of CD44, uPAR and c-MET after chemical cross-linking and c-MET activation through CD44 cross-linking with hyaluronic acid in ASML cells (80). The role of CD44v6 competent exosomes was also investigated in human pancreatic and colorectal CD44v6 knock-out cell lines with reduced motility, invasion and cancer-initiating cell marker expression (85). These exosomes reconstituted cancer-initiating cell marker expression as well as migratory, invasive and metastatic competence due to protease expression and re-established the distorted cooperation between CD44v6 and tetraspanin 8 (Tsp8) with integrins (85).

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Figure 1.

Interplay between tumor cells, other cell types, secreted factors and exosomes in the creation of pre- and metastatic niches. Exosomes and secreted factors are indicated by green circles or red squares, respectively. α5β6, α6β1 and α6β4,integrins; CAF, cancer-associated fibroblast; CCL2, CC chemokine ligand 2; cMET, tyrosine kinase receptor c-MET; CXCL2, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2; DC, dendritic cell; DTC, disseminated tumor cell; EC, endothelial cell; EPC, endothelial progenitor cell; HPC, hematopoietic progenitor cell; LOX, lysyl oxidase; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell; MIF, macrophage migration inhibitory factor; MMP9, matrix metalloprotease 9; MP, macrophage; MSC, mesenchymal stem cell; NK, natural killer cell; NTP, neutrophile; PLGF, pacental growth factor; S100A8/9, S100 calcium binding protein A8 or A9; TC, tumor cell; Tcyt, cytotoxic T-cell; TGFβ, transforming growth factor β; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor α; Tregs, regulatory T-cells; VEGFA, vascular endothelial growth factor, isoform A.

Metastatic Niche of Melanoma in the Lung

Establishment of pre-metastatic niches was analyzed by the i.v. injection of B16-F10 fluorescently-labeled exosomes and rapid detection of these exosomes in the organ blood vessels and subsequently in the target organs. Enhanced permeability of lung ECs at exosome-induced pre-metastatic niches was observed with the extravasation of fluorescently labeled dextran (86). Gene expression profiling of lung tissue before and after injection of B16-F10 exosomes revealed up-regulation of genes involved in ECM remodeling and inflammation, effectors of pre-metastatic niche formation such as S100A8 and S100A9 (57) and TNFα as a mediator of vascular permeability (87, 88). In order to assess the metastatic propensity of exosomes, mice were intravenously inocculated with exosomes produced from poorly (B16-F1) and highly metastatic (B16-F10) melanoma cells and subsequently luciferase-expressing B16-F10 cells were implanted by tail vein injection. A 240-fold increase in luciferase activity was observed in the lungs of mice with B16-F10 primary tumors when injected with B16-F10 exosomes in comparison to B16-F1 exosomes. Since the contribution of BMDCs in pre-metastatic niche formation is well documented (49, 88), the hypothesis that tumor-derived exosomes might “educate“ BMDCs, was investigated. For this purpose, C57B1/6 mice were reconstituted with bone marrow from GFP-expressing mice treated with B16 exosomes (BM educated) after lethal irradiation. In these mice an increase in size and number (3 fold-higher metastatic burden) in the lungs and ipsilateral lymph nodes was noted after challenge with B16-F10mCherry cells. Interestingly, BM education with B16-F10 exosomes could increase the metastatic burden of Lewis lung carcinoma cells by a factor of ten (86). A 2-fold increase in pro-angiogenic cKIT⁺TIE2⁺ cells in the BM was observed 28 days after treatment in the melanoma exosome-based system. These cells can be recruited to the primary tumor as well as to metastatic niches. Proteomic profiling revealed increased expression of MET (89-91) in B16-F10 exosomes. Reduction of MET and phospho-MET levels by shRNA in B16-F10 exosomes led to a six-fold decrease of cKIT⁺MET⁺ BM progenitors in BM and peripheral blood, indicating horizontal transfer of exosomal MET to BM progenitors. The role of exosomes as mediators of the phenomena as described above was further corroborated by the fact that reduction of exosome production by inhibition of Rab27a (92, 93) decreased recruitment of BMDCs necessary for metastatic progression. Also TLRs have been shown to be involved in premetastatic niche formation in the lung. The role of TLR3 in the formation of a PMN in the lung was shown with TLR3 knock-out mice (94). TLR3 activation in lung epithelial cells by tumor-derived exosomal RNAs triggers neutrophil recruitment by induction of PMN markers such as S100A8, S100A9, MMP9, Bv8 and FN and secretion of cytokines such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5 and CXCL12 (94).

Metastatic Niche of Pancreatic Carcinoma in the Liver

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly metastatic and is associated with a dismal prognosis due to delayed detection (95, 96). Preferential target organs for metastasis are the liver, peritoneum and the lungs (97). Therefore, models which recapitulate early steps of pathogenesis of PDAC might be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It was shown that PDAC-derived exosomes induce pre-metastatic niche formation in the liver of naive mice and subsequent injection of pancreatic tumor cells leads to enhanced metastatic burden in comparison to injection of the tumor cells in absence of exosomes (98). Mechanism-based studies revealed uptake of exosomes by Kupffer cells of the liver, resulting in secretion of factors associated with liver fibrosis including TGFβ. The latter induces deposition of FN by stellate cells and influx of bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of mice with a TGFβ type I receptor inhibitor (A83-01) during exosome education mediated a decrease of stellate cells, FN deposition and macrophage migration to the liver. Analysis of PDAC-derived exosomes revealed high expression of macrophage-inhibitory factor (MIF). Knock-down of MIF in exosomes was accompanied with a pronounced reduction of TGFβ, FN deposition, macrophage recruitment and metastatic liver burden without affecting binding of exosomes to Kupffer cells. In a genetic model of PDAC, increase in exosomal MIF and TGFβ expression by liver Kupffer cells was observed in early pretumoral stages and expression levels correlated with disease progression (98). Preliminary data with patient-derived sera and quantitation of exosome MIF levels could be useful as a biomarker for clinicians to monitor disease progression (98). MIF, through binding to its receptor CD74, has been found to be implicated in cell-mediated immunity, immuno-regulation and inflammation (99). In the highly aggressive 4T1 breast cancer model, MIF was shown to be involved in suppression of recruitment of monocytic MDSC and metastasis without impacting tumor growth (100, 101). The phenomena as described were dependent on the tautomerase activity of MIF, since neutralization of its tautomerase activity by the cancer preventive agent sulforaphane abolished the observed MIF-related effects. Taken together, exploration of MIF as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in PDAC, based on the models as described, deserves further investigations.

Exosome Mediated Interplay Between Tumor Cells with Fibroblasts, Astrocytes and Adipocytes Resulting in Metastasis

In the following we outline that exosomes derived from tumor cells or from fibroblasts can function as mediators of metastasis. CAFs have been identified as potent stimulators of cancer metastasis (102, 103). They contribute to remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and promote its stiffness mediating a mesenchymal phenotype in epithelial cells by loosing their cell-cell junctions and polarity (104, 105). The generation of CAFs by tumor cell-derived exosomes has been described in numerous examples. Exosomes derived from a variety of cancer cells can induce differentiation of stromal fibroblasts to myofibroblasts by exosome-associated TGFβ and subsequent SMAD-dependent signaling (30, 106). Further examples are differentiation of adipose-derived MSCs to myofibroblasts by breast- and ovarian cancer derived exosomes (31, 107) and the generation of tumor-supporting fibroblasts from umbilical cord derived MSCs by gastric cancer exosomes (108). In addition, the transfer of MMP-inducer EMMPRIN by exosomes derived from lung cancer cells to fibroblasts has been shown to stimulate expression of MMPs, leading to tumor-cell ECM-remodeling, invasion and metastasis (109). Making use of imaging techniques as described in a previous chapter of this review, it was observed in orthotopic breast cancer models that exosomes from breast cancer cells can move to other cancer and stromal cells at metastatic sites (23, 24). Vice versa, exosomes from tumor-associated fibroblasts can profoundly enhance the metastatic properties of recipient tumor cells (110, 111). Fibroblast secreted exosomes (L-cell and human CAF-derived), promote breast cancer cell protrusive motility and metastasis via the Wnt-planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway (110, 111). Fibroblast-secreted CD81-positive exosomes are tethered to tumor cells through Wnt 11, leading to autocrine activation of the PCP signaling pathway. Hallmarks of this pathway are the asymmetric subcellular localization across polarized tissue of complexes comprising seven pass Frizzled (Fzd) receptors, four-pass Van-Gogh-like receptors (Vangl) and cytoplasmic proteins such as prickle (Pk) and dishevelled (Dvd) (111). Several PCP components have been shown to be overexpressed in human tumors (112). In addition to fibroblasts, astrocytes have been identified as mediators of metastasis. Astrocyte-derived exosomes loaded with miR-19a induce loss of PTEN in tumor cells resulting in secretion of the chemokine CCL2, which recruits myeloid cells enhancing outgrowth of brain metastatic tumor cells (113). Loss of PTEN is often observed in brain metastases and cell lines derived from brain metastases (113). Also exosomes derived from adipocytes have been shown to confer migration-promoting properties to melanoma cells through transfer of proteins involved in fatty acid oxidation (114). These observations might explain why obese melanoma patients have a poorer prognosis in comparison to non-obese melanoma patients (114).

Metastasis-related Interactions Between Cancer Cell-derived Exosomes and Endothelial Cells

Metastasis-related interactions of tumor-cell derived exosomes with ECs involve the increase of vascular permeability, transfer of mRNAs, miRs and proteins to ECs and degradation of EC tight junction proteins by miR-related cargos. Enhancement of vascular permeability mediated by tumor cell-derived exosomes has been observed with melanoma and breast cancer-derived exosomes in vitro and in vivo (86, 115). Several miRs as exosome cargos have been implicated as mediators of angiogenesis and metastasis. Melanoma-derived exosomes containing miR-9 have been shown to activate JAK-STAT signaling in ECs (116). Exosomal cancer cell-derived miR-210 has been identified as another angiogenesis and metastastis-promoting miRNA (117), which is upregulated in exosomes derived under hypoxic conditions (118), and its transfer to ECs was shown to be dependent on exosome-formation promoting neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase 2) (119). Also exosome-based protein transfer as a stimulator of angiogenesis and metastasis was observed. Exosomes derived from several types of cancer cells deliver EGFR to ECs and induce angiogenesis through VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling (120). Glioblastoma cells grown under hypoxic conditions were shown to produce exosomes that deliver pro-angiogenic factors such as IL8 and PDGF to ECs (121). An additional example is the transfer of tissue factor by tumor-cell derived exosomes to ECs, resulting in activation of GPCR protease-activated receptor 2 and subsequent upregulation of HB-EGF, promoting an angiogenic EC phenotype (122). Promotion of brain metastasis by breast cancer cell-derived exosomal miRs after transfer to ECs was documented in two reports (115, 123). Degradation of tight junction proteins of ECs of the BBB such as claudin 5, occludin and ZO-1 by miR-105 and miR-181c promoted brain metastasis of breast cancer cells (115, 123). Interestingly, miR-105, miR-181c and miR-210 are significantly overexpressed in breast cancer tissue in comparison to matching normal tissues (Figure 2).

Metastasis Promotion by Exosomes Based on Immuno-suppression

Immuno-suppression by exosomes resulting in promotion of cancer pathogenesis is a well-documented phenomenon (15). A variety of immune effector cells can be affected, resulting in induction of apoptosis of cytotoxic T-cells, promotion of expansion and function of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), mobilisation of neutrophils, induction of polarisation of macrophages to the M2 subtype, inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity, expansion and activation of MDSCs and inhibition of differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) (15). Here we focus on examples in which promotion of metastasis has been documented based on immuno-suppressive actions of exosomes. Exosomes derived from activated T-cells were shown to promote B16 melanoma and Lewis lung cell metastasis to the lung (86). Activation of the Fas/FasL pathway in tumor cells, increase in FLICE inhibitory proteins, activation of ERK- and NFĸB signaling and the resulting increase in MMP9 activity were shown to be responsible for promotion of metastasis (124). However, most investigations on immune-mechanisms based promotion of metastasis were performed with TC-derived exosomes. Melanoma cell line B16-derived exosomes induced a switch in differentiation to COX2, IL6, VEGF and arginase expressing MDSCs, in a manner that was dependent on MyD-88, an adaptor molecule that is involved in the Toll-like receptor family signaling (125, 126). Inhibition of T-cell activation and acceleration of metastasis to the lung was noted in mice treated with TC-derived exosomes and the effects were blunted in MyD88 knock-out mice. In addition, breast cancer cell-derived exosomes, induced proinflammatory cytokines such as IL6, TNFα, G-CSF and CCL2 in distant macrophages, dependent on TLR2 or MyD88 as shown by genetic ablation experiments (127). The alterations, as described, resulted in enhancement of metastases in human breast cancer xenograft models. Another example is enhancement of metastases by TC-derived exosomes after co-culturing of 4T1 breast cancer cells with immuno-suppressive leukocytes (128). It was shown that TC-derived exosomes take-up FN and after fusion with other TCs are able to activate production of proinflammatory cytokines and MMP9 as well as FAK signaling, resulting in promotion of metastasis.

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Figure 2.

Expression of selected microRNAs in breast cancer in comparison to matched normal tissues. Steady-state RNA levels corresponding to miR-105, miR-181c and miR-210 based on 1,084 invasive breast cancer samples and 104 matched normal samples derived from cohorts of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) are shown. Expression was quantified by RNA sequencing and is shown as log2 of normalized read counts. The red lines indicate low versus higher expression. Expression data are shown as box plots. The line in the middle of the box represents the data median, the rectangles show the upper and lower 25% quartile, therefore 50% of all data points are included in the rectangle. All other data points, except for outliers are located within the upper and lower whiskers.

Exosome-mediated Organotropism of Metastasis

Previous investigations on organotropism of metastasis have focussed on cell-intrinsic components. They have identified guidance molecules such as CXCR4, CCR7 and their chemokine ligands CXCL12 and CCL21 as mediators of lung tropism of breast cancer metastasis, osteoclast stimulating factors for bone-related metastasis and integrins, tenascin and periostin as important drivers of organotropism of metastasis for different types of tumors (2, 60, 129, 130-133). As previously outlined, pre-metastatic niche formation can be induced by tumor-derived factors including cytokines and lysyl-oxidase and additionally by exosomes. A new twist in this scenario is the demonstration of involvement of exosomes as mediators of organotropism of metastasis (134). Exosomes derived from variants of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231 with tropism of metastasis to the lungs and brain were homing to the corresponding target organs after tail vein, intracardial or retro-orbital injection. Conditioning of metastatic sites for subsequent colonization was also demonstrated by education of stromal cells with exosomes derived from pancreatic tumor cells, BxPC3 and HPAFII, which metastasize to the liver. It was shown that exosomes can redirect metastatic distribution. Metastasis of an MDA-MB 231 subline with tropism of metastasis to the bone could be redirected to metastasize to the lungs after creating a metastatic niche with exosomes from a MDA-MB 231 subline known to metastasize to the lungs. Proteomic analysis of exosomes identified integrins α6β1 and α6β4 as determinants of metastasis to the lungs and correspondingly, αvβ6, as the driver for liver metastasis. Uptake of exosomes was mediated by distinct cells, such as S100A4 expressing fibroblasts in the lung, Kupffer cells in the liver and CD31-positive brain endothelial cells. Gene expression analysis revealed activation of S100 genes and Src signaling in the pre-metastatic niches in the lung and the liver. An important translational aspect is the finding that colonization of organs with tumor cells could be inhibited with corresponding integrin-specific mAbs and decoy peptides. Expression patterns of integrins could play a role as organotropic biomarkers since a correlation between expression of integrin β4 and αv in exosomes from patients with lung or liver metastasis was found in comparison to patients with no metastasis. Integrins and exosome-inducible S100 proteins might be relevant targets for metastasis-preventing combination therapies. However, many advanced cancers disseminate to different organs, limiting the potential of therapeutics with an organ-specific mode of action.

Translational Aspects

Exosomes as mediators of metastasis is a field still in its infancy, despite groundbreaking findings over the last couple of years. The emerging diagnostic aspects (135) were not in the focus of this review. The complexicity of exosome-based interaction between tumor cells and other cell types is underlined by recent findings that exosomes from activated platelets can enhance metastases of lung cancer cells based on transfer of platelet CD41 (136).

In this review we focused on pre- and -metastatic niche formation in breast cancer, melanoma and pancreas carcinoma. Steady-state levels of mRNAs encoding niche-related factors expressed in these tumor entities were derived form The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and are displayed in Figure 3. It shows that none of these tumor types exhibits a pattern of preferential expression of defined factors, pronounced heterogeneous expression within a tumor entity and in each tumor type a subpopulation with exceptionally high expression of a specific factor in comparison to the median expression of the factor can be identified. G-CSF and TNFα are weakly expressed in breast cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer, however with outliers exhibiting strongly increased expression. Differential expression can be noted for CXCL2 and S100A8 with low average expression in breast cancer and melanoma, but significantly increased levels of corresponding mRNAs in pancreatic carcinoma. Overall the data as shown in Figure 3 would support a model of incremental contribution of specific factors to formation of pre- and metastatic niches. The major achievements driving the study of the role of exosomes in metastasis from our point of view are summarized in Table I.

With respect to the potential impact of the findings discussed in this review for therapy, many questions still have to be addressed. The potential impact relies on intervention at different stages of niche formation, at an early stage before tumor cells have reached the pre-metastatic niche or at the stage of stromal progression of the metastatic sites (49). Is it possible to follow niche formation by monitoring growth factors and cytokines in the blood? Biomarkers as a surrogate measure for niche formation also would have an important impact on clinical studies targeting metastases (51). A couple of molecular and cellular targets mediating distinct steps of niche formation, such as vascular leakiness, stromal education in organotropic sites and BM-derived cell education and recruitment should be validated in more detail. Among the targets to be explored in more detail are molecular targets such as stromal FN, LOX, S100 proteins, MIF, CD81 and cellular targets such as VEGFR1⁺ myeloid cells, MDSC, activated fibroblasts and EPC. Also, technical aspects such as detection of pre-metastatic sites by immuno-histochemistry (IHC), have to be resolved. Myeloid cell clusters, activated fibroblasts and stromal FN are possible candidates for IHC-based detection of pre-metastatic niches. What determines the specific localization of niches within an organ? Are they newly formed, or do pre-formed, organ-type specific stem cell-related niches exist? Do premetastatic niches persist, after tumor-derived secreted factors have been removed? Which are the determinants of dormancy? Regarding organotropism of metastases, integrins mediating tropism of metastasis to single organs such as liver or lung might be of limited therapeutic value as discussed previously. Therefore, the question whether integrins with the propensity of mediating metastasis to several types of organs should be addressed in further studies. Some promising achievements regarding translation of exosome-related metastasis targets have been documented. TSU68, a small molecule inhibiting VEGFR1, PDGFRβ and FGFR1 has been shown to suppress CXCL1/CXCR2-dependent niche formation in the liver by inhibition of the inflammatory response through reduction of CXCL1 and IL12 (137). Furthermore, antibodies directed against αv on breast cancer cells prevented metastasis to other organs, but not to the lung (138, 139, 140). However, a serious limitation for translational research is the complexicity of pre-metastatic and metastatic niches with respect to its architecture and the interplay between secreted factors and cellular components, resulting in difficulties in setting up in vitro systems for its recapitulation for discovery of inhibitory molecules.

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Figure 3.

Expression of niche-related factors in breast cancer, melanoma and pancreatic tumors. Steady-state levels form RNA encoding the corresponding factors are shown. Three cohorts derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) are displayed: breast invasive carcinoma (n=1,100), melanoma (n=472) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n=179). Expression was quantitated by RNA sequencing and is shown as log2 normalized read counts. The red lines indicate low versus higher expression. Expression data are shown as box plots. The line in the middle of the box represents the data median, the rectangles show the upper and lower 25% quartile, therefore 50% of all data points are included in the rectangle. All other data points, except for outliers are located within the upper and lower whiskers. CCL2, CC chemokine ligand 2; CXCL2, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2; G-CSF, granulocyte stimulating factor; LOX, lysine oxidase; MIF, macrophage migration inhibitory factor; MMP9, macrophage migration inhibitory factor; TGFβ, transforming growth factor β1; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor α.