microRNA-155-3p delivered by M2 macrophages-derived exosomes enhances the progression of medulloblastoma through regulation of WDR82

Objective Exosomes, membranous nanovesicles, naturally bringing proteins, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs), play crucial roles in tumor pathogenesis. This study was to investigate the role of miR-155-3p from M2 macrophages-derived exosomes (M2-Exo) in promoting medulloblastoma (MB) progression by mediating WD repeat domain 82 (WDR82). Methods miR-155-3p expression was detected by RT-qPCR. The relationship of miR-155-3p with clinicopathological features of MB patients was analyzed. M2-Exo were isolated and identified by TEM, NTA and Western blot. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay were performed to explore the role of miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo on the progression of MB cells. Luciferase assay were used to identify the relationship between miR-155-3p and WDR82. The effect of miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo on tumorigenesis of MB was confirmed by the xenograft nude mice model. Results miR-155-3p was up-regulated in MB tissues of patients and MB cell lines. High miR-155-3p expression was correlated with the pathological type and molecular subtype classification of MB patients. WDR82 was a direct target of miR-155-3p. miR-155-3p was packaged into M2-Exo. miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo promoted the progression of Daoy cells. miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo promoted in vivo tumorigenesis. Conclusion The study highlights that miR-155-3p-loaded M2-Exo enhances the growth of MB cells via down-regulating WDR82, which might provide a deep insight into MB mechanism. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-03156-y.


Introduction
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a most prevalent malignancy in children [1]. The occurrence of MB is the highest in brain tumors, while its prognosis is much unpleasing [2,3]. MB is assigned into four main molecular subgroups, including wingless, sonic hedgehog, Group 3 and Group 4, each with mutational and transcriptomic signatures, clinical outcomes and apparent cytogenetics [4]. Risk factors of MB consist of radiation, age at diagnosis, female sex and additional unknown elements [5]. High-dose chemotherapy, surgery resection and radiation to the primary tumor site and craniospinal axis are the universal therapeutic approaches for MB [6]. However, the 5-year overall survival rate of patients with MB is around 65% [7], and the survivors have to endure neurological, cognitive and endocrine disorders resulted from the aggressive therapy [8]. Therefore, it is essential to develop more feasible and effective therapeutic strategies for MB.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control biological processes [9]. A previous study has demonstrated that miR-155 takes on a crucial role in accelerating glioma progression and offers prognostic values [10]. In addition, miR-155-3p suppression could reduce glioma cell growth and proliferation in a mouse model and elevates the survival of mice with gliomas [11]. Macrophages are inborn immune cells that could modify different kinds of immune responses, antigen presentation and phagocytosis. After differentiation from their monocyte precursor, macrophages polarize toward M1-like or M2-like phenotype [12]. Exosomes, an important form of extracellular vesicles, have been confirmed as the intercellular communication mediators in various physical processes related to cell proliferation and migration [13]. Exosomes can be defined by several common characteristics, including size, density, morphology, and certain enriched protein markers [14]. Exosomes can transfer macrophage phenotype to M2 activated macrophages [15]. It has been suggested that exosomes are involved in MB tumor biology, such as stimulation of tumor cell proliferation and migration [16]. In the present study, we first characterized the exosomes to determine their size, appearance and expression of protein exosomal markers, in accordance with recommendations by minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018) [17], and then explored that whether M2 macrophages-derived exosomes (M2-Exo) could load miR-155-3p to mediate the progression of MB cells. M2-Exo display high miR-155 expression, and M2-Exo-mediated tumor growth is partly depended on miR-155 [18,19]. WD repeat domain 82 (WDR82) is a c-terminal domain-combination protein recruiting the Setd1A Histone H3-Lys4 methyltransferase complex [20]. It has been accepted that WDR82 reduction is correlated with a poor prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) [21], while the relationship of WDR82 with MB was little studied.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-155-3p-loaded M2-Exo in MB progression by regulating WDR82.

Materials and methods
The experiments were approved by the Institutional Review Board of the 3rd affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University. All participants provided written informed consent. Efforts were made to avoid all unnecessary distress to the animals.

General information of patients
The tissue samples of 79 MB patients were collected from the 3rd affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University. The median age at diagnosis for MB patients was 9.94 years. Inclusion criteria: complete clinical data; MB confirmed via the pathologic diagnosis; no radiotherapy or chemotherapy before surgery. Exclusion criteria: incomplete clinical data; other primary tumors. Another 20 cases of normal cerebellar tissues were taken as a control via surgery excision after cerebellar hemorrhage.

Immunohistochemistry
Paraffin-embedded sections were deparaffinized in xylene and rehydrated in 100, 95, 90, 85, and 75% gradient series of ethanol. Then, the antigen was repaired in a citrate buffer (pH 6.0) at 120 °C, the endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% H 2 O 2 , and the sections were incubated with WDR82 primary antibody (1:200, Abcam, MA, USA) overnight and with the secondary antibody (1:500; Abcam). Diaminobenzidine-developed sections were counter-stained with hematoxylin solution.

Extraction and induction of bone marrow-derived macrophages
BALB/c mice (Henan Experimental Animal Center, Henan, China) aging 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-20 g, were euthanized. The femur and tibia were taken, and the bone marrow was syringed by serum-free Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium and filtrated with a 70-μm mesh. The filtrate was centrifuged and lysed with 5 mL erythrocyte lysis for 5 min. The monocytes obtained were stimulated in RPMI 1640 medium containing macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF, Peprotech, 25 ng/mL) for 72 h, 48 h, and 24 h (the medium was renewed at each time point), thus to differentiate to M0 macrophages.
Exosomes were isolated from the culture supernatant of M2 macrophages with ultracentrifugation method. The collected culture supernatant was centrifuged at 500×g and at 2000×g to remove the cell precipitation and cell debris. The obtained solution was filtrated via a 0.22-μm membrane and centrifuged at 1,00,000×g. The precipitation was re-suspended with PBS and centrifuged at 1,00,000×g to obtain exosome precipitation. During this process, the temperature of the sample never fell below 4 °C. The quantity of exosomes was measured using the BCA Protein Assay Kit (Beyotime, Shanghai, China). Western blot, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to identify M2-Exo.

Fluorescence microscopy analysis of exosome internalization
CM-Dil (2 μL, Sigma-Aldrich, MO, USA) was mixed with 100 μg exosomes, and resuspended in 18 mL PBS for 2-h centrifugation (1,20,000×g). The pellet was resuspended in 20 mL PBS and centrifuged at 1,20,000×g for 2 h. Then, the pellet was resuspended in 200 μL PBS and incubated with cells for 24 h. After fixation with polyformaldehyde, cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope.

Cell culture and treatment
In MB cell lines Daoy, D283, ONS-76, D341 and human glial cells (Shanghai YaJi Biological, Shanghai, China), STR identification and mycoplasma detection were performed.
Five μg of Exo, Exo-miR-155-3p mimic and Exomimic NC were co-cultured with 1 × 10 5 Daoy cells for 48 h when the cell confluence was 60%. Cells were collected for further experiments.

Proliferation assay
Transfected Daoy cells or Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo were cultured in 96-well plates, and analyzed by CCK-8 (Dojindo, Japan). The optical density 450 nm value was detected on the micro-plate reader at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h.

Colony formation assay
Transfected Daoy cells or Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo were seeded in 6-well plates with 200 cells/ well [22]. The experiment was terminated 2 weeks later when the colonies were visible. The cells were fixed with anhydrous methanol solution, stained with 0.1% crystal violet solution, and photographed. The number of colonies was counted using the Image J software.

Cell invasion assay
A 24-well Transwell plate (Corning) pre-coated with Matrigel (BD) was used for cell invasion. Transfected Daoy cells or Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo (4 × 10 4 ) were seeded into the upper chamber. The medium in the upper chamber was FBS-free DMEM, and the medium in the lower chamber was DMEM supplemented with 10% exosomes-free FBS. After 24 h, cells transferred to the lower chamber were stained with 0.5% crystal violet and photographed under a microscope (Nikon, Japan).

Scratch test
Transfected Daoy cells or Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo were seeded with 5 × 10 4 cells per well into 24-well plates. After cell adherence, a straight line was drawn on the monolayer cells using a 10 μL pipette. Cells were cultured with FBS-free DMEM (500 μL/well) for 24 h and observed under an inverted microscope.

Flow cytometry
Transfected Daoy cells or Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo were seeded into 6 well plates with 1 × 10 6 cells/well. After culturing for 12 h, cells were resuspended with 100 μL buffer. According to the protocol of Annexin V-Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) Apoptosis Detection Kit (Beyotime), 10 μL FITC (50 mg/L) and 5 μL propidium iodide(50 mg/L) were added to the cultured cells. Then, cells were added with 200 μL binding buffer and loaded to the flow cytometer (FACSCalibur, BD Biosciences, NJ, USA).

In vivo experiment
BALB/c nude mice of specific pathogen-free grade, aging 3-4 weeks, were purchased from Henan Experimental Animal Center. To observe the effect

Western blot analysis
The total protein was extracted from tissues, cells and exosomes using modified RIPA buffer and sonication, and the protein concentration was detected by BCA method. Total protein extract (20 µg) or exosomal protein (10 µg) was separated using a 10% or 15% polyacrylamide gel and transferred to a 0.

Dual luciferase reporter gene assay
The luciferase reporter assay was carried out using pmiR-RB-REPORT vector (RiboBio) containing the wild-type (WT) or mutant (Mut) WDR82 3′-UTR sequences. miR-155-3p mimic or the corresponding controls along with the WT/Mut WDR82 3′-UTR vectors was transfected into Daoy cells using Lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen). At 48 h after transfection, the dual luciferase assay kit (Beyotime) was used to measure luciferase activity; the luciferase activity was standardized to Renilla luciferase activity.

Statistical analysis
Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA) and Graphpad Prism 6.0 (Graph-Pad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA). Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Student's t test was applied to evaluate the significance between two samples. analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparison among multiple groups, and Tukey's post hoc test was applied for pairwise comparison after ANOVA. Correlation analysis was conducted by Pearson test. The correlation between miR-155-3p expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with MB was determined via chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Predictors were kept if they were significant at a P value of 0.05 or smaller.

Increase in miR-155-3p level in MB tissues; correlation of miR-155-3p levels with the clinicopathological characteristics of MB
To analyze the function of miR-155-3p in MB, miR-155-3p expression in MB tissues was detected by RT-qPCR and the Ct values of each samples were converted to fold changes using 2 −ΔΔCt method and then compared with the fold changes of the control group. The mean Ct value for miR-155-3p in the control group was 26.34. Based on our results, miR-155-3p expression was elevated in MB tissues (Fig. 1A). The relationship between miR-155-3p and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with MB was analyzed. Taking the median expression of miR-155-3p as the cutoff, the MB patients were assigned into low expression and high expression groups. chi-square test or Fisher's exact test manifested that the pathological type and molecular subtype classification of MB were correlated with miR-155-3p expression, while age, gender, tumor location, metastatic status and Residual tumor size were not (Table 1). miR-155-3p expression in MB cell lines Daoy, D341, D283 and ONS-76 cells and human glial cells was examined by RT-qPCR and the Ct values of each samples were converted to fold changes using 2 −ΔΔCt method and then compared with the fold changes of human glial cells. Mean Ct value for miR-155-3p in human glial cells was 24.60. It was determined that miR-155-3p expression was higher in Daoy, D341, D283 and ONS-76 cell lines than human glial cells (Fig. 1B).
Due to the high expression of miR-155-3p in Daoy cells, this MB cell line was used for subsequent experiments.

miR-155-3p directly targets WDR82 in MB cells
The bioinformatics analytical tool RNA22 was used to understand potential target genes of miR-155-3p in MB. WDR82 3′-UTR and miR-155-3p sequences were matched, as confirmed by transfecting the luciferase reporter containing WDR82 3′-UTR in Daoy cells. It was observed that miR-155-3p mimic reduced the relative luciferase activity of WT-WDR82 by nearly 62%, while the inhibition observed in cells transfected with Mut-WDR82 luciferase was minimal (Fig. 1C). WDR82 expression in Daoy cells that overexpressed or underexpressed miR-155-3p was further tested. It was noticed that miR-155-3p mimic reduced WDR82 expression while miR-155-3p inhibitor up-regulated WDR82 expression in Daoy cells. Daoy cells were transfected with miR-155-3p mimic, in the absence or presence of WDR82 plasmid for more clarity on the synergistic effects of WDR82. It was found that in Daoy cells, overexpression of WDR82 reversed the decrease in WDR82 expression caused by miR-155-3p mimic (Fig. 1D).
Our findings also showed WDR82 expression was suppressed in MB tissues (Fig. 1E, F). RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis also determined that WDR82 expression was lower in Daoy, D341, D283 and ONS-76 cell lines than human glial cells (Fig. 1G). Next, Pearson's correlation analysis in MB tissues revealed an inverse relationship between WDR82 and miR-155-3p expression (Fig. 1H). Table 2 details the expression of miR-155-3p and WDR82 in MB tissue and normal cerebellum tissue.

Inhibition of miR-155-3p impairs MB cell growth in vitro
To evaluate the effect of miR-155-3p on MB cells, Daoy cells were transfected with miR-155-3p mimic or inhibitor to regulate miR-155-3p expression. miR-155-3p expression in each transfected Daoy cells was detected  by RT-qPCR and the Ct values of each samples were converted to fold changes using 2 −ΔΔCt method and then compared with the fold changes of the mimic NC group. The mimic NC group mean Ct value for miR-155-3p was 28.16. Cell transfection with miR-155-3p mimic elevated miR-155-3p expression while transfection with miR-155-3p inhibitor declined miR-155-3p expression ( Fig. 2A). The proliferation and colony formation abilities of Daoy cells were detected via CCK-8 and colony formation assays (Fig. 2B, C). Proliferation and colony formation abilities of Daoy cells were enhanced by transfection with miR-155-3p mimic while depressed by that with miR-155-3p inhibitor. The activities of miR-155-3p on cell proliferation and cell colony formation were depressed by overexpressing WDR82. Cell apoptosis detected by flow cytometry indicated that miR-155-3p mimic transfection reduced while miR-155-3p inhibitor transfection heightened apoptosis rate of Daoy cells. WDR82 overexpression impaired miR-155-3p overexpression-induced apoptosis reduction (Fig. 2D).

Reduced miR-155-3p represses invasion and migration abilities of MB cells
Measurements of cell invasion and migration abilities demonstrated that miR-155-3p mimic transfection promoted invasion and migration of Daoy cells, while miR-155-3p inhibitor transfection worked in an opposite way; the activities of miR-155-3p on cell invasion and migration were inhibited by overexpressing WDR82 (Fig. 3A-D).

Down-regulation of miR-155-3p inhibits MB cell growth in vivo
To further explore whether miR-155-3p influences tumor growth in vivo, we constructed Daoy cells with miR-155-3p overexpression or low expression and subcutaneously injected them into nude mice. After 28 days, the tumor volumes and weight were high in miR-155-3poverexpressing Daoy cells. The tumor volumes and weight were lower in miR-155-3p low expression-modified Daoy cells (Fig. 3E-G).

Identification of M2 macrophages and M2-Exo
M2 macrophages were identified. Under the microscope, M2 macrophages were mainly elongated (Fig. 4A). The markers of M2 macrophages were detected by Western blot, and it was detected that ARG1 and CD206 were upregulated in M2 macrophages (Fig. 4B).
The exosomes isolated from M2 macrophages were identified by TEM, NTA and Western-blot. The results showed that the exosomes isolated from M2 macrophages had the following characteristics: morphology (bilayered membrane "round-shaped" vesicles), size (diameter 30-100 nm), and presence of exosomal positive protein marker (CD81, ALIX, TSG101) and non exosomal marker like the endoplasmic reticulum protein GRP94 (Fig. 4C-E).
To demonstrate that M2-Exos could be taken up by Daoy cells, we labeled exosomes with Dil, a membranal fluorescent carbocyanine dye, and found that Dillabeled M2-Exos were taken up by Daoy cells after 24 h co-culture (Fig. 4F).
We detected miR-155-3p expression in M2 macrophages transfected with miR-155-3p mimic and mimic NC and in exosomes derived from M2 macrophages transfected with miR-155-3p mimic or mimic NC by RT-qPCR, and the Ct values of each samples were converted to fold changes using 2 −ΔΔCt method and then compared with the fold changes of the mimic NC group or Exo-mimic NC group. The mean Ct value for miR-155-3p of mimic NC group was 29.35 while that for miR-155-3p of Exo-mimic NC group was 28.22. The results showed that, in M2 macrophages, miR-155-3p mimic increased miR-155-3p expression. miR-155-3p expression was higher in exosomes derived from M2 macrophages transfected with miR-155-3p mimic than exosomes derived from M2 macrophages transfected with mimic NC (Fig. 4G).

miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo accelerates cancer progression of MB cells
We observed the effects of M2-Exo and miR-155-3pmodified M2-Exo on the growth of MB cells in vitro. Firstly, miR-155-3p was checked by RT-qPCR in Daoy cells treated with M2-Exo, and the Ct values of each samples were converted to fold changes using 2 −ΔΔCt method and then compared with the fold changes of the Control group. The mean Ct value for miR-155-3p of Control group was 27.74. The test result showed that M2-Exo treatment increased miR-155-3p expression in Daoy cells. Exo-miR-155-3p mimic treatment increased miR-155-3p levels in Daoy cells compared to Exo-mimic NC treatment (Fig. 5A). The proliferation, colony formation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of Daoy cells after M2-Exo treatment were detected (Figs. 5B-D, 6A, B). Exo promoted the proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration activities while suppressed apoptosis of Daoy cells. Exo-miR-155-3p mimic treatment had the enhanced effects on Daoy cells.

miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo accelerates tumorigenesis of MB cells in vivo
To further explore the effects of miR-155-3p-enriched M2-Exo in MB, xenograft nude mice model was set up. Daoy cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice, and 5 mg exosomes was administered into nude mice via tail vein injection once every 3 days for 2 weeks. The results showed that administration of Exo accelerated tumour growth, and the administration of Exo-miR-155-3p mimic further promoted tumor growth and tumor weight (Fig. 6C-E).

Discussion
MB is a high-ranking malignancy recognized as a member of childhood cerebellum tumors [23]. Meanwhile, the pathophysiological basis of MB still remains poorly understood. Exosomes, virus-sized membrane vesicles produced extracellularly from cells may exhibit roles in MB pathogenesis but are as yet largely studied in this disease. For these reasons, this study was to investigate the role of the transfer of miR-155-3p by M2-Exo in promoting MB progression by targeting WDR82.
The observation of the study was that M2-Exo promoted the proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration abilities, inhibited apoptosis in vitro, and elevated the tumor growth rate in nude mice in MB. Indeed, it has been clarified that exosomes are involved in the pathogenesis of MB [16]. Significantly, exosomes from human gastric epithelial cells or serum exosomes from infected patients and mice clearly reduce endothelial functions with decrease of migration and proliferation [24]. This is consonant with the fact that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes facilitate osteosarcoma cell invasion, proliferation and migration [25]. Furthermore, it has been observed that M2-Exo could induce colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion and reduce apoptosis [26].