Glioma-Derived miRNA-Containing Extracellular Vesicles Induce Angiogenesis by Reprogramming Brain Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by aberrant vascularization and a complex tumor microenvironment. The failure of anti-angiogenic therapies suggests pathways of GBM neovascularization, possibly attributable to glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and their interplay with the tumor microenvironment. It has been established that GSC-derived extracellular vesicles (GSC-EVs) and their cargoes are proangiogenic in vitro. To further elucidate EV-mediated mechanisms of neovascularization in vitro, we perform RNA-seq and DNA methylation profiling of human brain endothelial cells exposed to GSC-EVs. To correlate these results to tumors in vivo, we perform histoepigenetic analysis of GBM molecular profiles in the TCGA collection. Remarkably, GSC-EVs and normal vascular growth factors stimulate highly distinct gene regulatory responses that converge on angiogenesis. The response to GSC-EVs shows a footprint of post-transcriptional gene silencing by EV-derived miRNAs. Our results provide insights into targetable angiogenesis pathways in GBM and miRNA candidates for liquid biopsy biomarkers. Extensive intercellular interactions occur within the notoriously heterogeneous tumor microenvironment of GBM. Lucero et al. identify distinct angiogenic gene regulatory responses of brain endothelial cells to growth factors and to extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by GBM stem-like cells. The response to EVs shows a footprint of EV-derived miRNAs.