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Aberrant Notch signaling is implicated in breast cancer progression, and recent studies have demonstrated links between the Notch pathway components Notch1 and Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) with poor clinical outcomes. Growing evidence suggests that Notch signaling can be regulated by small extracellular vesicles (SEVs). Here, we used breast cancer cell models to examine whether SEVs are involved in functional Notch signaling. We found that Notch components are packaged into MDA-MB-231- and MCF-7-derived SEVs, although higher levels of N1ICD were detected in SEVs from the more aggressive MDA-MB-231 cell line than from poorly invasive MCF-7 cells. SEV-Notch components were functional, as SEVs cargo from MDA-MB-231 cells induced the expression of Notch target genes in MCF-7 cells and triggered a more invasive and proliferative phenotype concomitant with the acquisition of mesenchymal features. Neutralization of the N1ICD cargo in MDA-MB-231-derived SEVs significantly reduced their potential to enhance the aggressiveness of MCF-7 cells in vitro and in a xenograft model. Overall, our results indicate that a SEV-mediated non-classical pathway of Notch signal transduction in breast cancer models bypasses the need for classical ligand-receptor interactions, which may have important implications in cancer.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an emerging alternative to cell-based therapies to treat many diseases. However, the complexity of producing homogeneous populations of EVs in sufficient amount hampers their clinical use. To address these limitations, we immortalized dental pulp-derived MSC using a human telomerase lentiviral vector and investigated the cardioprotective potential of a hypoxia-regulated EV-derived cargo microRNA, miR-4732-3p. We tested the compared the capacity of a synthetic miR-4732-3p mimic with EVs to confer protection to cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Results showed that OGD-induced cardiomyocytes treated with either EVs or miR-4732-3p showed prolonged spontaneous beating, lowered ROS levels, and less apoptosis. Transfection of the miR-4732-3p mimic was more effective than EVs in stimulating angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and in reducing fibroblast differentiation upon transforming growth factor beta treatment. Finally, the miR-4732-3p mimic reduced scar tissue and preserved cardiac function when transplanted intramyocardially in infarcted nude rats. Overall, these results indicate that miR-4732-3p is regulated by hypoxia and exerts cardioprotective actions against ischemic insult, with potential application in cell-free-based therapeutic strategies.

While coronary angioplasty represents an effective treatment option following acute myocardial infarction, the reperfusion of the occluded coronary artery can prompt ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury that significantly impacts patient outcomes. As omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have proven, yet limited cardioprotective abilities, an optimized polymer-conjugation approach is reported that improves PUFAs bioavailability to enhance cardioprotection and recovery in animal models of I/R-induced injury. Poly-l-glutamic acid (PGA) conjugation improves the solubility and stability of di-docosahexaenoic acid (diDHA) under physiological conditions and protects rat neonatal ventricular myocytes from I/R injury by reducing apoptosis, attenuating autophagy, inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Enhanced protective abilities are associated with optimized diDHA loading and evidence is provided for the inherent cardioprotective potential of PGA itself. Pretreatment with PGA-diDHA before reperfusion in a small animal I/R model provides for cardioprotection and limits area at risk (AAR). Furthermore, the preliminary findings suggest that PGA-diDHA administration in a swine I/R model may provide cardioprotection, limit edema and decrease AAR. Overall, the evaluation of PGA-diDHA in relevant preclinical models provides evidence for the potential of polymer-conjugated PUFAs in the mitigation of I/R injury associated with coronary angioplasty.

[ES] Las células de los mamíferos secretan una gran variedad de vesículas extracelulares (EV) que participan activamente en la comunicación celular. Entre ellas, los exosomas son un tipo de EV cuyo tamaño está comprendido entre los 20 y 150 nanómetros que juegan un papel importante en la comunicación celular. De este modo, se ha descrito el papel de los exosomas en distintos procesos como la regeneración de tejidos, la respuesta inmunitaria o en la progresión de diferentes tipos de cánceres. Por otro lado, se ha observado que la actividad de la vía de señalización de Notch juega un papel importante en procesos de diferenciación celular, la angiogénesis o la proliferación, entre otros. Además, se ha relacionado con la aparición y progresión de un gran número de patologías, como el cáncer. Trabajos recientes han advertido que la actividad de la vía de Notch puede regularse mediante un nuevo mecanismo de señalización mediado por exosomas. En este trabajo se profundizó en este nuevo mecanismo de señalización de la vía de Notch en dos contextos diferentes como son las terapias regenerativas y el cáncer. Un trabajo previo de nuestro laboratorio demostró que las células madre mesenquimales (MSC) que mantenían una expresión aumentada del factor inducible por hipoxia 1α (HIF-1α; HIF-MSC) aumentaban el potencial terapéutico de las MSC nativas en un modelo de infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) en rata a través de un aumento de la angiogénesis y una reducción de la fibrosis. Varios trabajos han estudiado la relación entre la vía de señalización de Notch y HIF-1α; así como la influencia de ambos en el proceso angiogénico. Por estos motivos, en este trabajo nos interesamos por evaluar la relación de ambas vías y su efecto sobre la angiogénesis a través de los exosomas liberados por las HIF-MSC y las MSC. Los resultados permitieron observar que la expresión de HIF-1α indujo un aumento en la secreción y la transferencia de exosomas de MSC a cultivos primarios de células endoteliales. Además, se observó que los exosomas derivados de HIF-MSC tenían un mayor potencial angiogénico tanto in vitro como in vivo en parte debido a una mayor incorporación del ligando de la vía de Notch Jagged1. Se ha observado que los exosomas derivados de células tumorales contribuyen a la progresión tumoral a través de mecanismos como la activación de la transición epitelio mesénquima (EMT), el establecimiento de nichos pre-metastáticos o la inmunomodulación. Así, se sabe que la vía de señalización de Notch es capaz de activar la EMT durante la progresión de distintos tipos de cánceres. Así mismo, los cánceres de mama de peor prognosis han sido relacionados con una desregulación de la vía de señalización de Notch. Por estas razones, nos inquietó la posibilidad de que la señalización de la vía de Notch a través de exosomas estuviera influyendo en la progresión del cáncer de mama. De este modo, estudiamos la presencia de componentes de la vía de señalización de Notch en los exosomas procedentes de dos líneas tumorales de cáncer de mama, una más agresiva (MDA-MB-231) y otra menos agresiva (MCF-7). Así, se observó que varios componentes de Notch se sobreexpresaron en los exosomas procedentes de MDA-MB-231 en comparación con los procedentes de MCF-7. Fue de particular interés la detección del dominio intracelular con actividad transcripcional de Notch1 (N1ICD) sobreexpresado en los exosomas procedentes de MDA-MB-231. Debido a que previamente había sido demostrado que una sobreexpresión de N1ICD en MCF-7 aumentaba su tumorigenicidad a través de una inducción de la EMT, se evaluó el efecto de los componentes de Notch incorporados en los exosomas procedentes de ambas líneas tumorales sobre cultivos de MCF-7. Nuestros resultados sugieren que los componentes de Notch incorporados en los exosomas procedentes de MDA-MB-231 son funcionales y contribuyen a la induc, [CA] Les cèl·lules dels mamífers secreten una gran varietat de vesícules extracel·lulars (EV) que participen activament en la comunicació celular. Entre elles, els exosomes són un tipus de EV amb una grandària compresa entre els 20 i 150 nanòmetres que juguen un paper important en la comunicació celular. D'aquesta manera, s'ha descrit el paper dels exosomes en diferents processos com la regeneració de teixits, la resposta immunitària o en la progressió de diferents tipus de càncers. D'altra banda, s'ha observat que l'activitat de la via de senyalització de Notch juga un paper molt important en processos de diferenciació cel·lular, la angiogénesis o la proliferació, entre altres. A més, s'ha relacionat amb l'aparició i progressió d'un gran nombre de patologies, com el càncer. Treballs recents han advertit que l'activitat de la via de Notch pot regular-se mitjançant un nou mecanisme de senyalització mediat per exosomes. En aquest treball es va aprofundir en aquest nou de mecanisme de senyalització de la via de Notch en dos contextos diferents com són les teràpies regeneratives i el càncer. Un treball publicat pel nostre equip de treball va demostrar que les cèl·lules mare mesenquimals (MSC) que mantenien una expressió augmentada del factor inducible per hipòxia 1α (HIF-1α; HIF-MSC) augmentaven el potencial terapèutic de les MSC natives en un model d'infart agut de miocardi (IAM) en rata a través d'un augment de la angiogénesis i una reducció de la fibrosi. Diversos treballs han estudiat la relació entre la via de senyalització de Notch i HIF-1α; així com la influència de tots dos en el procés angiogénic. Per aquests motius, en aquest treball ens vam interessar en estudiar la relació de totes dues vies i el seu efecte sobre la angiogénesis a través dels exosomes alliberats per les HIF-MSC i les MSC. Els resultats van permetre observar que l'expressió de HIF-1α va induir un augment en la secreció i la transferència d'exosomes de MSC a cultius primaris de cèl·lules endotelials. A més, es va observar que els exosomes derivats de HIF-MSC tenien un major potencial angiogénic tant in vitro com in vivo en part a causa d'una major incorporació del lligant de la via de Notch Jagged1. S'ha observat que els exosomes procedents de cèl·lules tumorals contribueixen a la progressió tumoral a través de mecanismes com l'activació de la transició epiteli mesènquima (EMT), l'establiment de nínxols pre-metastàtics o la inmunomodulació. En aquest sentit, se sap que la via de senyalització de Notch és capaç d'activar l'EMT durant la progressió de diferents tipus de càncers. Així mateix, els càncers de mama de pitjor prognosi han sigut reiteradament relacionats amb una desregulació de la via de senyalització de Notch. Per açò, ens va inquietar la possibilitat que la senyalització de la via de Notch a través d'exosomes estiguera influint en la progressió del càncer de mama. D'aquesta manera, estudiem la presència de components de la via de senyalització de Notch en els exosomes procedents de dues línies tumorals de càncer de mama, una més agressiva (MDA-MB-231) i una altra menys agressiva (MCF-7). Així, es va observar que diversos components de Notch es sobreexpresaben en els exosomes procedents de MDA-MB-231 en comparació amb els procedents de MCF-7. Va ser de particular interés la detecció del domini intracel·lular amb activitat transcripcional de Notch1 (N1ICD) sobreexpresat en els exosomes procedents de MDA-MB-231. Debut a que havia sigut demostrat que una sobreexpressió de N1ICD en MCF-7 augmentava la seua tumorigenicidad a través d'una inducció de l'EMT, es va evaluar l'efecte dels components de Notch incorporats en els exosomes procedents de les dues línies tumorals sobre cultius de MCF-7. Els nostres resultats suggereixen que els components de Notch incorporats en els exosomes procedents de MDA-MB-231 eren funcionals i contribuïen a la, [EN] Mammal cells secrete a great variety of extracellular vesicles (EV) that actively participate in intercellular communication. Among them, exosomes are a type of EV whose size is between 20 and 150 nanometers and play an important role in intercellular communication. In this way, the role of exosomes in different processes such as tissue regeneration, the immune response or in the progression of different types of cancers has been described. On the other hand, it has been observed that the Notch signaling pathway plays a very important role in processes such as cell differentiation, angiogenesis or proliferation, among others. In addition, it has been related to the appearance and progression of a large number of pathologies, such as cancer. Recent works have shown that the activity of the Notch pathway can be regulated by a new signaling mechanism mediated by exosomes. In this work, we deepened this new signaling mechanism of the Notch signaling pathway in two different contexts: the regenerative therapies and cancer. A work previously published by our laboratory showed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that maintained an increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α; HIF-MSC) increased the therapeutic potential of native MSC in a model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats through an increase in angiogenesis and a reduction in fibrosis. Several studies have studied the relationship between the Notch signaling pathway and HIF-1α as well as the influence of both in the angiogenic process. For these reasons, in this work we were interested in evaluating the relationship of both pathways and their effect on angiogenesis through exosomes released by HIF-MSCs and MSCs. The results showed that the expression of HIF-1α induced an increase in the secretion and the transfer of exosomes of MSC to primary cultures of endothelial cells. In addition, it was observed that exosomes derived from HIF-MSC had a greater angiogenic potential both in vitro and in vivo in part due to a greater incorporation of the Notch ligand Jagged1. In the last decade, it has been observed that exosomes from tumor cells contribute to tumor progression through mechanisms such as the activation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the establishment of pre-metastatic niches orimmunomodulation. In this sense, it is known that the Notch signaling pathway is capable of activating EMT during the progression of different types of cancers. Likewise, breast cancers of bad prognosis have been repeatedly related to a deregulation of the Notch signaling pathway. For these reasons, we were concerned about the possibility that the signaling of the Notch pathway through exosomes was influencing the progression of breast cancers. In this way, we studied the presence of Notch signaling pathway components in exosomes from the metastatic and more aggressive MDA-MB-231 and the non-metastatic and less aggressive MCF-7 cell lines. It was observed that several Notch components were overexpressed in exosomes from MDA-MB-231 compared to those from MCF-7. Of particular interest was the detection of the intracellular domain with transcriptional activity of Notch1 (N1ICD) overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 exosomes. It has been previously demonstrated that an overexpression of N1ICD in MCF-7 increases its tumorigenicity through an induction of EMT. Because of this, we evaluated the effect of Notch components incorporated in exosomes from both tumoral cell lines on MCF-7 cultures. Our results suggested that Notch components incorporated into MDA-MB-231 exosomes were functional and contributed to the induction of EMT when added to MCF-7 cultures in part due to N1ICD activity.

During the course of evolution, prokaryote and eukaryote cells have developed elegant and to some extent analogous strategies to communicate with each other and to adapt to their surrounding environment. Eukaryotic cells communicate with each other through direct interaction via juxtracrine signaling and/or by secreting soluble factors. These secreted factors can subsequently act on the cell itself (autocrine signaling) or interact with neighboring (paracrine signaling) and distant (endocrine signaling) cells. The transmission of signals between cells and tissues has been traditionally thought to be regulated by a protein-based signaling system. Typically, proteins destined for secretion into the extracellular milieu by exocytosis contain a canonical secretion-targeting sequence ( Thery et al., 2002 ). However, proteins with a non-continuous and stimulus-dependent secretion, proteins that do not contain a canonical secretion-targeting sequence, and species that might be too labile within the extracellular environment (DNA, mRNA, peptides, metabolites, miRNA and other RNA species), can be secreted in small membranous extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a specific manner ( Hagiwara et al., 2014 ). Exosomes represent one broad class of these secreted membrane vesicles with a diameter of 30-130 nm ( Cocucci et al., 2009 ; Thery et al., 2009 ; Kowal et al., 2014 ), which are formed inside the secreting cells in endosomal compartments called multivesicular bodies. Molecules loaded into exosomes as well as the intensity of the exosome transfer between cells are important parameters for the subsequent conditioning of recipient cells. Current knowledge on secretion of exosomes and their internalization in recipient cells remains incomplete. It is known that secretion intensity of exosomes varies according to the cellular type and its physiological state ( Garcia et al., 2016 ). Moreover, the different combination of transmembrane proteins on the surface of exosomes that facilitate the adhesion to the cell-extracellular matrix vary the avidity with which a recipient cell captures exosomes ( Hoshino et al., 2015 ). Here, we have developed an in vitro system by which the transfer of exosomes between cells in co-culture can be quantified using FRAP ('Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching') technology. This protocol has been used to analyze the effects of exosome transfer of hypoxia inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) in Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC; HIF-MSC) to Human Umbilical Cord Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) (Gonzalez-King et al., 2017).

Insufficient vessel growth associated with ischemia remains an unresolved issue in vascular medicine. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to promote angiogenesis via a mechanism that is potentiated by hypoxia. Overexpression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α in MSCs improves their therapeutic potential by inducing angiogenesis in transplanted tissues. Here, we studied the contribution of exosomes released by HIF-1α-overexpressing donor MSCs (HIF-MSC) to angiogenesis by endothelial cells. Exosome secretion was enhanced in HIF-MSC. Omics analysis of miRNAs and proteins incorporated into exosomes pointed to the Notch pathway as a candidate mediator of exosome communication. Interestingly, we found that Jagged1 was the sole Notch ligand packaged into MSC exosomes and was more abundant in HIF-MSC than in MSC controls. The addition of Jagged1-containing exosomes from MSC and HIF-MSC cultures to endothelial cells triggered transcriptional changes in Notch target genes and induced angiogenesis in an in vitro model of capillary-like tube formation, and both processes were stimulated by HIF-1α. Finally, subcutaneous injection of Jagged 1-containing exosomes from MSC and HIF-MSC cultures in the Matrigel plug assay induced angiogenesis in vivo, which was more robust when they were derived from HIF-MSC cultures. All Jagged1-mediated effects could be blocked by prior incubation of exosomes with an anti-Jagged 1 antibody. All together, the results indicate that exosomes derived from MSCs stably overexpressing HIF-1α have an increased angiogenic capacity in part via an increase in the packaging of Jagged1, which could have potential applications for the treatment of ischemia-related disease.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective in treating several pathologies. We and others have demonstrated that hypoxia or hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) stabilization improves several MSC functions, including cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation, thereby increasing their therapeutic potential. To further explore the mechanisms induced by HIF-1 alpha in MSCs, we studied its relationship with Notch signaling and observed that overexpression of HIF-1 alpha in MSCs increased protein levels of the Notch ligands Jagged 1-2 and Delta-like (Dll) 1, Dll3, and Dll4 and potentiated Notch signaling only when this pathway was activated. Crosstalk between HIF and Notch resulted in Notch-dependent migration and spreading of MSCs, which was abolished by gamma-secretase inhibition. However, the HIF-1-induced increase in MSC proliferation was independent of Notch signaling. The ubiquitin family member, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), has important functions in many cellular processes and increased SUMO1 protein levels have been reported in hypoxia. To investigate the potential involvement of SUMOylation in HIF/Notch crosstalk, we measured general SUMOylation levels and observed increased SUMOylation in HIF-1-expressing MSCs. Moreover, proliferation and migration of MSCs were reduced in the presence of a SUMOylation inhibitor, and this effect was particularly robust in HIF-MSCs. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated SUMOylation of the intracellular domain of Notch1 (N1ICD) in HIF-1-expressing MSCs, which contributed to Notch pathway activation and resulted in increased levels of N1ICD nuclear translocation as assessed by subcellular fractionation. SUMOylation of N1ICD was also observed in HEK293T cells with stabilized HIF-1 alpha expression, suggesting that this is a common mechanism in eukaryotic cells. In summary, we describe, for the first time, SUMOylation of N1ICD, which is potentiated by HIF signaling. These phenomena could be relevant for the therapeutic effects of MSCs in hypoxia or under conditions of HIF stabilization. This work was supported, in part, by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI13/00414, PI16/0107, RE-TICS RD12/0019/0025 to P.S. and RETICS RD12/0019/0003 (TERCEL) to J.L.D.L.P cofunded by FEDER ``una manera de hacer Europa. It was also supported by the Regenerative Medicine Program of Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Valencian Community to Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe. The authors are grateful to Dr. A. Dorronsoro for critical review of the work and Dr. K McCreath for manuscript editing. Sí

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) and endothelial cells (ECs) have an intimate anatomical relationship that is essential for maintaining normal development and function in the heart. Little is known about the mechanisms that regulate cardiac and endothelial crosstalk, particularly in situations of acute stress when local active processes are required to regulate endothelial function. We examined whether CM-derived exosomes could modulate endothelial function. Under conditions of glucose deprivation, immortalized H9C2 cardiomyocytes increase their secretion of exosomes. CM-derived exosomes are loaded with a broad repertoire of miRNA and proteins in a glucose availability-dependent manner. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of exosome cargo molecules identified an enrichment of biological process that could alter EC activity. We observed that addition of CM-derived exosomes to ECs induced changes in transcriptional activity of pro-angiogenic genes. Finally, we demonstrated that incubation of H9C2-derived exosomes with ECs induced proliferation and angiogenesis in the latter. Thus, exosome-mediated communication between CM and EC establishes a functional relationship that could have potential implications for the induction of local neo-vascularization during acute situations such as cardiac injury.