Exosome-transmitted miR-769-5p confers cisplatin resistance and progression in gastric cancer by targeting CASP9 and promoting the ubiquitination degradation of p53

Background Cisplatin resistance is the main cause of poor clinical prognosis in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Yet, the exact mechanism underlying cisplatin resistance remains unclear. Recent studies have suggested that exocrine miRNAs found in the tumor microenvironment participate in tumor metastasis and drug resistance. Methods Exosomes isolated from BGC823 and BGC823/DDP culture medium were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and differential ultracentrifugation, and miRNA expression profiles of BGC823 and BGC823/DDP cells derived exosomes were analyzed using miRNA microarray. In vivo and in vitro assays were used to identify roles of exosomal miR-769-5p and clarify the mechanism of exosomal miR-769-5p regulated the crosstalk between sensitive and resistant GC cells. Results In this study, we found that cisplatin-resistant GC cells communicated with the tumor microenvironment by secreting microvesicles. MiR-769-5p was upregulated in GC tissues and enriched in the serum exosomes of cisplatin-resistant patients. The biologically active miR-769-5p could be integrated into exosomes and delivered to sensitive cells, spreading cisplatin resistance. Underlying cellular and molecular mechanism was miR-769-5p targeting CASP9, thus inhibiting the downstream caspase pathway and promoting the degradation of the apoptosis-related protein p53 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Targeting miR-769-5p with its antagonist to treat cisplatin-resistant GC cells can restore the cisplatin response, confirming that exosomal miR-769-5p can act as a key regulator of cisplatin resistance in GC. Conclusions These findings indicate that exosome-transmitted miR-769-5p confers cisplatin resistance and progression in gastric cancer by targeting CASP9 and promoting the ubiquitination degradation of p53. These findings reveal exosomal miR-769-5p derived from drug-resistant cells can be used as a potential therapeutic predictor of anti-tumor chemotherapy to enhance the effect of anti-cancer chemotherapy, which provides a new treatment option for GC.