MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell-derived exosomal miR-17-5p promotes proliferation and migration of non-MYCN amplified cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is considered a highly prevalent extracranial solid tumor in young children, and the upregulation of N-myc proto-oncogene (MYCN) is closely associated with the late stages of NB and poor prognostic outcomes. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of exosomal microRNA (miRNA/miR)-17-5p from MYCN-amplified NB cells on the proliferative and migratory potential of non-MYCN amplified NB cells. miR-17-5p was found to activate the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade by targeting PTEN, and the overexpression of miR-17-5p was found to promote cellular migration and proliferation in vitro. Further experimentation revealed that the elevated expression of miR-17-5p in SK-N-BE(2) cell-derived exosomes significantly promoted the proliferative and migratory capacities of SH-SY5Y cells by inhibiting PTEN. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that miR-17-5p derived from MYCN-amplified NB cell exosomes promoted the migration and proliferation of non-MYCN amplified cells, highlighting an exosome-associated malignant role for miR-17-5p.