Potential biological functions of microvesicles derived from adenoid cystic carcinoma

Microvesicles (MVs) are secreted by multiple types of tumor cell and are involved in tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of MVs derived from salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) and to investigate their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of perineural invasion of SACC. MVs were isolated from ACCs cells, and differential gene expression profiles of these MVs were compared with their donor cells to speculate on their biological functions. Several candidate genes were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effects of ACCs MVs on rat Schwann cells (RSC96 cells), which are the principal glia of the peripheral nervous system, were then evaluated by phospho-antibody array performed on RSC96 cells transduced with ACCs MVs. The results indicated that ACCs cells may produce MVs. Microarray-based expression profiles between ACCs cells and their MVs identified 1,355 genes involved in cell adhesion, development and the regulation of apoptosis. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase signal pathway in RSC96 cells may be induced by ACCs-derived MVs. These results may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying perineural invasion in SACC, and to determine a promising anti-tumor biological therapeutic target.