Exosomal lncRNA CHL1-AS1 Derived from Peritoneal Macrophages Promotes the Progression of Endometriosis via the miR-610/MDM2 Axis

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine 2021-01, Vol.16, p.5451-5464
• Main Authors: Liu, Ting, Liu, Mei, Zheng, Caihua, Zhang, Daoyan, Li, Mingbao, Zhang, Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cysts; Endometriosis; Endometriosis - genetics; exosomes; Female; Gene expression; Humans; Laparoscopy; lncrna chl1-as1; Macrophages, Peritoneal; mdm2; Mice; MicroRNAs - genetics; mir-610; Original Research; Ovaries; Pathogenesis; peritoneal macrophages; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; Surgery; Wound healing
• ISSN: 1178-2013; 1176-9114; 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S323671

Exosomes secreted by peritoneal macrophages (pMφ) are deeply involved in the development of endometriosis (EMs). Exosomes can mediate cell-to-cell communication by transferring biological molecules. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of exosomal long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) CHL1-AS1 derived from pMφ on EMs. Exosomes (exo) from pMφ were isolated, identified, and co-cultured with ectopic endometrial stromal cells (eESCs) to investigate the biological functions of pMφ-exo. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of lncRNA CHL1-AS1 in pMφ-exo from EMs and control patients and verify the transportation of lncRNA CHL1-AS1 from pMφ to eESCs. The effects of exosomal lncRNA CHL1-AS1 on eESC proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were also detected. The relationships among lncRNA CHL1-AS1, miR-610, and MDM2 (mouse double minute 2) were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the effects of exosomal lncRNA on EMs using a xenograft model of EMs. Exosomes from pMφ were successfully isolated. EMs-pMφ-exo promoted eESC proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited their apoptosis. lncRNA CHL1-AS1 was upregulated in EMs-pMφ-exo and transported from pMφ to eESCs via exosomes. lncRNA CHL1-AS1 was found to act as a competing endogenous RNA of miR‑610 to promote the expression of MDM2. EMs-pMφ-exo shuttled lncRNA CHL1-AS1 to promote eESC proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibit apoptosis by downregulating miR-610 and upregulating MDM2. Furthermore, exosomal lncRNA CHL1-AS1 promoted EMs lesions growth by increasing MDM2 in vivo. The results demonstrate that exosomal lncRNA CHL1-AS1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of eESCs and inhibits their apoptosis by downregulating miR-610 and upregulating MDM2, which might be a potential therapeutic target for EMs.