The vesicular transfer of CLIC1 from glioblastoma to microvascular endothelial cells requires TRPM7.

Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) is highly expressed and secreted by human glioblastoma cells and cell lines such as U87, initiating cell migration and tumor growth. Here, we examined whether CLIC1 could be transferred to human primary microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC). We previously reported that the oncogenic microRNA, miR-5096, increased the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by which it increased its own transfer from U87 to surrounding cells. Thus, we also examined its effect on the CLIC1 transfer. In homotypic cultures, miR-5096 did not increase the expression of CLIC1 in U87 nor in HMEC. However, the endothelial CLIC1 level increased after exposure to EVs released by U87, and even more by miR-5096-loaded U87. The EVs-transferred CLIC1 was active in HMEC, promoting endothelial sprouting in matrigel. Cell exposure to EVs induced cytosolic Ca spikes which were dependent on the transient receptor potential melastatin member 7 (TRPM7). TRPM7 silencing prevented Ca spikes and the subsequent CLIC1 delivery into HMEC. Our data suggest that the vesicular transfer of CLIC1 between cells requires TRMP7 expression in recipient endothelial cells. How the vesicular transfer of CLIC1 is modulated in cancer therapy is a future challenge.