Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition

Abstract The peritoneum is the most common site of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC), and the mechanisms underlying this process of gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) remain largely elusive. Mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) plays a crucial role in the progression of GCPM. I...

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Main Authors: Chao Dong, Yajing Zhou, Xiaochun Shen, Shuo Hu, Kaipeng Duan, Tao Chen, Weikang Li, Xiaotong Sun, Peiyuan Li, Pengbo Wang, Ye Han, Dongbao Li, Qiaoming Zhi, Jin Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Cell Death and Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07749-z
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author Chao Dong
Yajing Zhou
Xiaochun Shen
Shuo Hu
Kaipeng Duan
Tao Chen
Weikang Li
Xiaotong Sun
Peiyuan Li
Pengbo Wang
Ye Han
Dongbao Li
Qiaoming Zhi
Jin Zhou
author_facet Chao Dong
Yajing Zhou
Xiaochun Shen
Shuo Hu
Kaipeng Duan
Tao Chen
Weikang Li
Xiaotong Sun
Peiyuan Li
Pengbo Wang
Ye Han
Dongbao Li
Qiaoming Zhi
Jin Zhou
author_sort Chao Dong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The peritoneum is the most common site of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC), and the mechanisms underlying this process of gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) remain largely elusive. Mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) plays a crucial role in the progression of GCPM. In our current study, the data confirmed that GC-derived exosomes could significantly promote peritoneal metastasis through an MMT-dependent manner in vivo and in vitro. Using RNA-seq, we successfully identified a key circular RNA (circPTBP3). The expression of exosomal circPTBP3 in the plasma of GCPM patients was significantly upregulated and closely correlated with tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphatic invasion, peritoneal metastasis, and TNM stage. Exosomal circPTBP3 thus serves as a reliable diagnostic and prognostic indicator in GCPM patients. Mechanistically, exosomal circPTBP3 could effectively promote the MMT phenotype of mesothelial cells in vitro. Located in the nucleus, circPTPB3 was found to recruit transcription factor AP-2-beta (TFAP2B) to the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) promoter sites, thereby initiating its transcription in mesothelial cells. These findings suggest that exosomal circPTPB3 functions as a pivotal mediator in facilitating the interplay between GC cells and mesothelial cells, and it provides a promising diagnostic indicator and therapeutic target for GCPM patients.
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spelling doaj-art-1af368339ddd46fda31465cd669038482025-08-20T02:40:17ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892025-06-0116111710.1038/s41419-025-07749-zTumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transitionChao Dong0Yajing Zhou1Xiaochun Shen2Shuo Hu3Kaipeng Duan4Tao Chen5Weikang Li6Xiaotong Sun7Peiyuan Li8Pengbo Wang9Ye Han10Dongbao Li11Qiaoming Zhi12Jin Zhou13Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract The peritoneum is the most common site of metastasis in advanced gastric cancer (GC), and the mechanisms underlying this process of gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis (GCPM) remain largely elusive. Mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT) plays a crucial role in the progression of GCPM. In our current study, the data confirmed that GC-derived exosomes could significantly promote peritoneal metastasis through an MMT-dependent manner in vivo and in vitro. Using RNA-seq, we successfully identified a key circular RNA (circPTBP3). The expression of exosomal circPTBP3 in the plasma of GCPM patients was significantly upregulated and closely correlated with tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymphatic invasion, peritoneal metastasis, and TNM stage. Exosomal circPTBP3 thus serves as a reliable diagnostic and prognostic indicator in GCPM patients. Mechanistically, exosomal circPTBP3 could effectively promote the MMT phenotype of mesothelial cells in vitro. Located in the nucleus, circPTPB3 was found to recruit transcription factor AP-2-beta (TFAP2B) to the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) promoter sites, thereby initiating its transcription in mesothelial cells. These findings suggest that exosomal circPTPB3 functions as a pivotal mediator in facilitating the interplay between GC cells and mesothelial cells, and it provides a promising diagnostic indicator and therapeutic target for GCPM patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07749-z
spellingShingle Chao Dong
Yajing Zhou
Xiaochun Shen
Shuo Hu
Kaipeng Duan
Tao Chen
Weikang Li
Xiaotong Sun
Peiyuan Li
Pengbo Wang
Ye Han
Dongbao Li
Qiaoming Zhi
Jin Zhou
Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
Cell Death and Disease
title Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
title_full Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
title_fullStr Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
title_full_unstemmed Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
title_short Tumor exosomal circPTBP3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition
title_sort tumor exosomal circptbp3 drives gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis via mesothelial mesenchymal transition
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-025-07749-z
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