M2 Macrophage-Derived Exosomes Regulate miR-199a-3p Promoter Methylation Through the LINC00470-Mediated myc/DNMT3a Axis to Promote Breast Cancer Development

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common invasive cancer in women. M2 macrophage exosomes promote cancer development and play multiple roles in the tumor microenvironment, but the mechanism of action by which M2 macrophage exosomes promote BC remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which M2 macrophage-derived exosomes promote the development of breast cancer. We collected BC tissues and determined the expression of LINC00470, followed by the establishment of M2 macrophages in culture and the isolation and identification of M2 macrophage exosomes. Next, we investigated the effects of M2 macrophage exosomes on BC cell proliferation, invasion, miR-199a-3p promoter methylation, and the expression of LINC00470, myc, DNMT3A, and miR-199a-3p. Finally, LINC00470 expression was inhibited in M2 macrophage exosomes, while miR-199a-3p expression was inhibited in BC cells, and changes in BC cell proliferation, invasion, miR-199a-3p promoter methylation, and the expression of LINC00470, myc, DNMT3A, and miR-199a-3p were analyzed. We demonstrated that LINC00470 was highly expressed in BC tissues, M2-type macrophages were successfully induced in vitro, and Dil-labeled M2 macrophage exosomes could successfully enter MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Coculture of M2 macrophage exosomes with MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells significantly enhanced the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, upregulated the expression of LINC00470, myc, and DNMT3A and downregulated the expression of miR-199a-3p. Moreover, the inhibition of LINC00470 expression in M2 macrophage exosomes significantly downregulated the expression of LINC00470, myc, and DNMT3A in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, upregulated the expression of miR-199a-3p, and hypomethylated the promoter of the miR-199a-3p locus. Moreover, inhibition of LINC00470 expression in M2 macrophage-derived exosomes significantly attenuated the proliferation and invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, while miR-199a-3p inhibitor transfection reversed this effect. Collectively, these findings indicated that M2-type macrophage-derived exosomes promote BC proliferation and migration by regulating miR-199a-3p promoter methylation through the LINC00470-mediated myc/DNMT3a axis.