Long noncoding RNA changes exosome secretion and microRNA expression carried by exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the roles and functions of nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 () in exosome secretion and exosomal microRNA (miRNA) changes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Methods: HepG2 and HuH-7 cells were divided into two groups: Lv-control (which were infected with lentivirus without expression) and Lv- (which were infected with lentivirus with overexpression). Each group was used to study cell function (proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis) and exosome secretion by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), electron microscopy, and nanoflow cytometry (nanoFCM). Different levels of messenger RNA (mRNA), miRNA, and exosomal miRNA were detected by RNA sequencing. Next, potential target RNAs were verified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Changed exosomal miRNAs were found and miRNA mimics were used to study cell function in -overexpression and -knockdown HCC cells.

Results: The data showed that -overexpression promoted exosome secretion. The overexpression of altered global genes, including exosome-related genes. Compared with the control group, we observed that several miRNAs changed in the exosomes secreted by -overexpressing cells. Our study found that these changed exosomal miRNAs played a suppressor role in HCC. Transfection of , , and reversed the enhanced invasion and proliferation in HCC cells with a high level of expression.

Conclusions: These results suggested that regulates exosome-related genes, which might be associated with increasing exosome secretion by -overexpressing cells. Furthermore, promotes cell invasion and proliferation via downregulation of , and in exosomes. This study may provide potential targets for exosome-mediated miRNA transfer in HCCs with a high level of expression therapy.