Interaction of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with MCF-7 cells in vitro:a study emphasizing signaling molecule expression and transcriptional changes

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) promote metastasis of breast cancer cells that can differentiate into carcinoma-associated cells in tumor microenvironments. However, the precise mechanism is poorly understood. This study shows that interaction of ADSCs with breast cancer MCF-7 cells changes the level of metastasis-related functional proteins in MCF-7 cells, as well as that of oncogenes in ADSCs. ADSCs were isolated from adipose tissues of patients. The interaction of ADSCs with MCF-7 cells was performed by coculturing ADSCs (or MCF-7 cells) with exosomes derived from MCF-7 cells (or ADSCs). Exosomes were labeled by DiI. In cocultures, migration-related regulators in MCF-7 cells were significantly enhanced in both protein (Smad, Slug, Snail1/2, Twist1, N-cadherin, vimentin) and mRNA (SMAD, SLUG, SNAIL1/2, TWIST1, N-cadherin, and vimentin) levels. The expression levels of oncogenes (RAS and HER-2) and an antioncogene gene (P53) in ADSCs were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Interestingly, variation tendencies of the molecules were more conspicuous in inflammatory circumstances than without. In conclusion, interaction of MCF-7 cells with ADSCs increases the levels of a series of metastasis-related functional proteins in MCF-7 cells and enhances the expression of oncogenes in ADSCs.