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Abstract
Trastuzumab resistance has been becoming a major obstacle for treatment of HER-2-positive breast cancer patients. Increasing evidence suggests that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play critical roles during the formation of drug resistance, however, the underlying mechanism is not well known. In this study, mass spectrometry, RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the direct interactions among AGAP2-AS1 and other associated targets, such as human antigen R (HuR), miR-15a-5p, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1). In vitro and in vivo experimental assays were done to clarify the functional role of AGAP2-AS1 in trastuzumab resistance, stemness, and fatty acid oxidation (FAO). The results showed that MSC co-culture induced trastuzumab resistance. AGAP2-AS1 was upregulated in MSC-cultured cells, and knockdown of AGAP2-AS1 reversed the MSC-mediated trastuzumab resistance. Furthermore, MSC culture-induced AGAP2-AS1 regulates stemness and trastuzumab resistance via activating FAO. Mechanistically, AGAP2-AS1 is associated with HuR, and the AGAP2-AS1–HuR complex could directly bind to the CPT1, increasing its expression via improving RNA stability. In addition, AGAP2-AS1 could serve as ceRNA via sponging miR-15a-5p and releasing CPT1 mRNA. Clinically, increased expression of serum AGAP2-AS1 predicts poor response to trastuzumab treatment in breast cancer patients. In conclusion, MSC culture-induced AGAP2-AS1 caused stemness and trastuzumab resistance via promoting CPT1 expression and inducing FAO. Our results provide new insight of the role of MSCs in trastuzumab resistance and AGAP2-AS1 could be promising predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for HER-2+ breast cancer patients.
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1 Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Department of General Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China (GRID:grid.443397.e) (ISNI:0000 0004 0368 7493)
2 The First People’s Hospital of Chenzhou City, Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Hunan, China (GRID:grid.459429.7)
3 The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Department of Breast Surgery, Zhengzhou, China (GRID:grid.412633.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 1799 0733)
4 Chongqing Medical University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing, China (GRID:grid.203458.8) (ISNI:0000 0000 8653 0555)
5 University of Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing, China, Department of General Surgery, Chongqing Renji Hospital, Chongqing, China (GRID:grid.203458.8)