CAF-derived exosomal WEE2-AS1 facilitates colorectal cancer progression via promoting degradation of MOB1A to inhibit the Hippo pathway.

ABSTRACT: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and closely involved in tumor progression. However, the precise biological functions and molecular mechanisms of CAFs in the TME have yet to be understood. Here, we demonstrate that WEE2-AS1 is highly expressed in the CAF-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Moreover, WEE2-AS1 is markedly higher in plasma sEVs of CRC patients than in healthy subjects and its high level predicts advanced pathological staging and poor survival. Then, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Elevated expression of WEE2-AS1 in sEVs increases CRC cell proliferation in vitro. Importantly, aberrant CAF-sEVs^WEE2-AS1 leads to tumor formation and progression in BALB/c

SUBMITTER: Yang P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9485119 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature