Exosomal miR-106b-5p derived from melanoma cell promotes primary melanocytes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through targeting EphA4

BACKGROUND: Cancer-secreted exosomal miRNAs regulates the biological processes of many tumours. The serum level of exosomal miR-106b-5p is significantly increased in melanoma patients. However, the role and molecular mechanisms of exosomal miR-106b-5p in melanoma remains unclear. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-106b-5p and EphA4 in melanoma tissues. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blotting were used to identify exosome. QRT-qPCR and Cy3-labelled miR-106b-5p were used to demonstrated the transmission of melanoma cell-secreted exosomal miR-106b-5p. Western blotting, Immunofluorescence, adhesion, transwell and scratch wound assay were used to explore the role of exosomal miR-106b-5p in melanocytes. Luciferase reporter assays and RNA-Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were used to confirm whether erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor A4 (EphA4) was a direct target of miR-106b-5p. RESULTS: We found that miR-106b-5p levels were increased in melanoma tissue, and high miR-106b-5p expression is an independent risk factor for the overall survival of patients with melanoma. miR-106b-5p is enriched in melanoma cell-secreted exosomes and transferred to melanocytes. Exosomal miR-106b-5p promotes the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, invasion and adhesion of melanocytes. Exosomal miR-106b-5p exerted its role by targeting EphA4 to activate the ERK pathway. We demonstrated that exosomal miR-106b-5p promoted melanoma metastasis in vivo through pulmonary metastasis assay. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, melanoma cell-secreted exosomal miR-106b-5p may serve as a diagnostic indicator and potential therapeutic target in melanoma patients. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01906-w.