Differential sequences and single nucleotide polymorphism of exosomal SOX2 DNA in cancer

PLoS One. 2020 Feb 24;15(2):e0229309. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229309. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of brain cancer, with an average life expectancy of fewer than two years post-diagnosis. We have previously reported that cancer cell originated exosomes, including GBM, have NANOG and NANOGP8 DNA associated with them. The exosomal NANOG DNA has certain differences as compared to its normal counterpart that are of immense importance as a potential cancer biomarker. NANOG has been demonstrated to play an essential role in the maintenance of embryonic stem cells, and its pseudogene, NANOGP8, is suggested to promote the cancer stem cell phenotype. Similarly, SOX2 is another stemness gene highly expressed in cancer stem cells with an intimate involvement in GBM progression and metastasis as well as promotion of tumorigenicity in Neuroblastoma (NB). Since exosomes are critical in intercellular communication with a role in dissipating hallmark biomolecules responsible for cancer, we conducted a detailed analysis of the association of the SOX2 gene with exosomes whose sequence modulations with further research and appropriate sample size can help to identify diagnostic markers for cancer. We have detected SOX2 DNA associated with exosomes and have identified some of the SNPs and nucleotide variations in the sequences from a GBM and SH-SY5Y sample. Although a further systematic investigation of exosomal DNA from GBM and NB patient's blood is needed, finding of SOX2 DNA in exosomes in the current study may have value in clinical research. SOX2 is known to be misregulated in cancer cells by changes in miRNA function, such as SNPs in the binding sites. Our finding of cancer-specific SNPs in exosomal SOX2 DNA sequence may reflect those changes in the cancer stem cells as well as cancer cells. A series of our study on embryonic stem cell gene analysis in exosomal DNA may lead to a minimally invasive exosome-based diagnosis, and give us a key in understanding the mechanisms of cancer formation, progression, and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Exosomes / genetics*
  • Exosomes / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by The Wrenn Trust (grant number 2210-4202), preclinical test of Alzheimer’s disease treatment in human 3D brain in vitro model, Principal Investigator (KS); The Florida Department of Health Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research (grant number 6901-7005), Antibody targeting of IL1RAP and studying their therapeutic effects in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, Principal Investigator (KS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.