Exosomes derived from pancreatic cancer cells induce insulin resistance in C2C12 myotube cells through the PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 14;7(1):5384. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05541-4.

Abstract

Prospective epidemiological studies have consistently suggested that pancreatic cancer-associated new-onset diabetes mellitus (PC-DM) represents a potential platform for early diagnose of pancreatic cancer (PC). Despite the studies performed, the mechanism behind this phenomenon remains ambiguous. In this study, we explored the effects of two types of exosomes released by murine pancreatic cancer and ductal epithelial cells on murine skeletal muscle cells. The results show that PC-derived exosomes can readily enter C2C12 myotubes, triggering lipidosis and glucose intake inhibition. We also demonstrate that PC-derived exosomes can inhibit insulin and PI3K/Akt signalling, in which insulin-induced FoxO1 nuclear exclusion is preserved and Glut4 trafficking is impaired. Microarray and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses show that exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) probably play key roles in this process, an assumption that is corroborated by in vitro studies. These results confirm that the insulin resistance (IR) of skeletal muscle cells is governed by PC-derived exosomes through the insulin and PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 signalling pathways, where exosomal miRNAs potentially contribute to this phenomenon. These novel findings pave the way towards a comprehensive understanding of the cancer theories: "metabolic reprogramming" and "metabolic crosstalk".

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Exosomes / chemistry*
  • Exosomes / transplantation
  • Female
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / genetics*
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • Myoblasts / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Pik3cd protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt