Exosomes with low miR-34c-3p expression promote invasion and migration of non-small cell lung cancer by upregulating integrin α2β1

Exosomes play critical roles in regulating various physiological and pathological processes, including immune stimulation, immune suppression, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Recent studies show that exosomes that transport specific microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in tumor development. However, the molecular mechanism by which tumor invasion and migration are regulated by exosomes from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not well understood. Here, we show that exosomes shuttling low levels of miR-34c-3p are involved in NSCLC progression. Our results showed that exosomes derived from NSCLC cells carrying low levels of miR-34c-3p could be transported into the cytoplasm of NSCLC cells and accelerate NSCLC invasion and migration by upregulating integrin α2β1. A luciferase assay revealed that integrin α2β1 was the direct target of miR-34c-3p, and overexpression of integrin α2β1 could promote the invasion and migration of NSCLC cells. The analysis of exosomes derived from clinical serum samples indicated that the expression of miR-34c-3p was significantly downregulated in exosomes from NSCLC patients compared with that of normal controls. A549-derived exosomes promoted NSCLC cells lung metastases in vivo. Exosomes shuttling low levels of miR-34c-3p were associated with the progression of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrate that exosomes shuttling low levels of miR-34c-3p can accelerate the invasion and migration of NSCLC by upregulating integrin α2β1. MiR-34c-3p can be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for NSCLC. High expression of integrin α2β1 is positively related to the migration and metastasis of NSCLC cells.