Elsevier

Laboratory Investigation

Volume 89, Issue 11, November 2009, Pages 1317-1328
Laboratory Investigation

Technical Report
Paracrine induction of endothelium by tumor exosomes

https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2009.94Get rights and content
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Abstract

Cancers use a nanoscale messenger system known as exosomes to communicate with surrounding tissues and immune cells. However, the functional relationship between tumor exosomes, endothelial signaling, angiogenesis, and metastasis is poorly understood. Herein, we describe a standardized approach for defining the angiogenic potential of isolated exosomes. We created a powerful technique to rapidly and efficiently isolate and track exosomes for study using dynamic light scattering in conjunction with fluorescent exosome labeling. With these methods, melanoma exosomes were observed to interact with and influence endothelial tubule morphology as well as move between endothelial tubule cells by means of tunneling nanotube structures. Melanoma exosomes also were observed to rapidly stimulate the production of endothelial spheroids and endothelial sprouts in a dose-dependent manner. In concert, tumor exosomes simultaneously elicited paracrine endothelial signaling by regulation of certain inflammatory cytokines. These data suggest that, tumor exosomes can promote endothelial angiogenic responses, which could contribute to tumor metastatic potential.

Keywords

exosomes
angiogenesis
tumor
cancer
endothelial
3D assay

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DISCLOSURE/CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Laboratory Investigation website (http://www.laboratoryinvestigation.org)

Supplementary information

The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.94) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.