miRNA profiles of exosomes secreted by head and neck cancer-associated fibroblasts and the paired normal fibroblasts

Exosomal miRNAs secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in facilitating head and neck cancer (HNC) progression. A few studies in other cancers have confirmed some CAF-specific miRNAs could be delivered to tumor cells via exosome, thus contributing to chemoresistance. To identify the specific miRNAs responsible for the capability of CAF-derived exosomes to promote cisplatin resistance in recipient HNC cells, a miRNA array was conducted to identify miRNAs involved in exosomes derived from CAFs and the paired normal fibroblasts (NFs). NFs (n=3) or CAFs (n=3) were incubated with serum-free DMEM for 48 h and the conditioned medium (CM) was collected and put together. The CM was filtered through a 0.22 μm PVDF filter and exosomes were isolated from NF- or CAF-CM by ultracentrifugation. Then, the NF- and CAF-derived exosomes were sent for miRNA array analysis.