Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell (BMSC)-Derived Exosomes Regulates Growth of Breast Cancer Cells Mediated by Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

BMSCs promote breast cancer development mainly through tumor microenvironment pathway and secreting exosomes. However, the mechanism is unclear. This study mainly explores whether BMSC-derived exosomes influence breast cancer by mediating Hedgehog signaling pathway. MCF-7 and BMSC were cultured and then assigned into MCF-7 + Vehicle group, MCF-7+ Exosome group, and MCF-7+ Exosome+ Gant61 (Hedgehog signaling blocker) group followed by analysis of cell proliferation and migration, p-Akt and beta-catenin expression. MCF-7+ Exosome group had the highest OD450 value compared to other two groups (P > 0.05). In addition, migration distance of MCF-7 cells was the highest in MCF-7+ Exosome group without difference between other two groups (P > 0.05). Gli1 and SMO expression in MCF-7+ Exosome group was highest compared to other two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, exosome from BMSC promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. The mechanism may be through raising GLI1, Smo protein expression, further raising the Hedgehog signaling pathway to some extent.