The tumor suppressor PTEN is exported in exosomes and has phosphatase activity in recipient cells

Sci Signal. 2012 Sep 25;5(243):ra70. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2003084.

Abstract

Exosomes are microvesicles of endosomal origin that are secreted, and their contents (proteins, lipids, DNA, or microRNAs) can alter the physiological states of recipient cells. We demonstrated that phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a tumor suppressor protein normally localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, was secreted in exosomes. Secreted PTEN was internalized by recipient cells with resultant functional activity, which resulted in reduced phosphorylation of the serine and threonine kinase Akt and reduced cellular proliferation. PTEN secretion in exosomes required Ndfip1, an adaptor protein for members of the Nedd4 family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Without Ndfip1, neither Nedd4-1 nor Nedd4-2 promoted the recruitment of PTEN into exosomes. In addition, lysine 13 within PTEN, which is required for its ubiquitination by Nedd4-1, was required for exosomal transport of PTEN. These results implicate Ndfip1 as a molecular regulator of the exosomal export of PTEN, with consequences for non-cell-autonomous PTEN activity. Thus, we suggest that the ability of PTEN to exert phosphatase activity beyond the cell in which it is produced has implications for PTEN function during development, health, and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt / metabolism*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • Trypan Blue
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Ndfip1 protein, mouse
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Nedd4 protein, human
  • Nedd4L protein, human
  • Nedd4l protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Oncogene Protein v-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse
  • thiazolyl blue
  • Trypan Blue