Chemotherapeutic drugs stimulate the release and recycling of extracellular vesicles to assist cancer cells in developing an urgent chemoresistance
Authors: Jiye Cai
Likun Chen
Meng Xu
Liyan Huang
Dongjuan Qiao
Zhen Chen
Xiaokun Wang
Shupeng Chen
Liwu Fu
Fang Wang
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: ABCB1; Chemotherapeutic drugs; Extracellular vesicles; Intercellular transfer; Multidrug resistance.
Affiliations: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China., Department of Chemistry, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China., State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China. .

Abstract:  Background: Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment for cancer. However, the development of acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) is a serious issue. Emerging evidence has shown that the extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate MDR, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear, especially the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on this process. Methods: Extracellular vesicles isolation was performed by differential centrifugation. The recipient cells that acquired ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1) proteins were sorted out from co-cultures according to a stringent multi-parameter gating strategy by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The transfer rate of ABCB1 was measured by flow cytometry. The xenograft tumor models in mice were established to evaluate the transfer of ABCB1 in vivo. Gene expression was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results: Herein, we show that a transient exposure to chemotherapeutic agents can strikingly increase Rab8B-mediated release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing ABCB1 from drug-resistant cells, and accelerate these EVs to circulate back onto plasma membrane of sensitive tumor cells via the down-regulation of Rab5. Therefore, intercellular ABCB1 transfer is significantly enhanced; sensitive recipient cells acquire a rapid but unsustainable resistance to evade the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. More fascinatingly, in the xenograft tumor models, chemotherapeutical drugs also locally or distantly increase the transfer of ABCB1 molecules. Furthermore, some Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients who are undergoing primary chemotherapy have a rapid increase of ABCB1 protein in their monocytes, and this is obviously associated with poor chemotherapeutic efficacy. Conclusions: Chemotherapeutic agents stimulate the secretion and recycling of ABCB1-enriched EVs through the dysregulation of Rab8B and Rab5, leading to a significant increase of ABCB1 intercellular transfer, thus assisting sensitive cancer cells to develop an urgent resistant phenotype. Our findings provide a new molecular mechanism of how chemotherapeutic drugs assist sensitive cancer cells in acquiring an urgent resistance. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blot images in Figure 1H appear to show some areas with sharp edges or contrast. Could the authors please review and comment? *** Inverse image ![file] *** Original ![file] , 
 I am the first author of this paper Xiaokun Wang. Thank you for pointing out this error. We apologize for this unintentional error. We have checked our raw data files, and found the original uncropped film (Below, left). In the figure1H, the top band for ABCB1 expression was mistakenly cut and placed during the process of formatting the figure panels when we prepared the manuscript submission. According to this western blot result, we still can conclude that chemotherapeutic agent VCR obviously increased the level of extracellular ABCB1 protein, especially at the concentration of 8nM. Also, the EILSA data in figure I J showed similar result. Therefore, this error does not impact the conclusions of the paper. Our group has been working on this project for several years, and more than three graduate students have verified the key experimental results. We are confident in our conclusion. Below please find the original scanned image and the corrected figure 1H. Nevertheless, we will contact the Editorial Office to correct this error. ![file] ![file] , 
 #2 Do the authors have an update on this correction? ,