Abstract:Objective To explore the effects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-derived exosomes on endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis and its possible mechanisms. Methods CNE1 cells were transfected with liposome and divided into Blank, sh-NC, sh-LncTUG1-1, sh-LncTUG1-2 and sh-LncTUG1-3 groups. HUVECs and exosomes were co-incubated and divided into PBS group, CNE1-Exo-sh-NC group and CNE1-Exo-sh-LncTUG1 group. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of lncTUG1 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines CNE1, CNE2, HONE1, normal nasopharyngeal epithelial NP69 and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe exosome morphology. Nanosight nanoparticle size Particle tracking analyzer was used to detect the size of exosomes. PKH67 kit was used to detect the uptake of HUVECs to exosomes. Western blot was used to detect the expression of exosome marker proteins CD63, CD9, TSG101. CCK-8 kit was used to detect HUVECs cell viability. EdU test was used to detect HUVECs cell proliferation. Matrigel angiogenesis test was used to detect HUVECs angiogenesis ability. Results The expression level of lncTUG1 in CNE1, CNE2 and HONE1 cells was higher than that of NP69 cells (P<0.01), and the expression level of lncTUG1 in CNE1 cells was the highest. NP69-derived exosomes and CNE1-derived exosomes (CNE1-Exo, CNE1-Exo-sh-NC, CNE1-Exo-sh-lncTUG1) were successfully separated. The exosomes have a round vesicle structure with a diameter of approximately 100nm, and highly express CD63, CD9 and TSG101 proteins. PKH67 labeled exosomes could be taken up by HUVECs. The expression of LncTUG1, cell viability, EdU positive cell rate and the number of tubular network structures in HUVECs in CNE1-Exo group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (P<0.05). The expression of lncTUG1, cell viability, EdU positive cell rate and the number of tubular networks in the CNE1-Exo-sh-NC group were significantly higher than those in the PBS group (P<0.05). The expression of lncTUG1 and cells in the CNE1-Exo-sh-lncTUG1 group Vitality, EdU positive cell rate and the number of tubular network structures were significantly lower than those in CNE1-Exo-sh-NC group (P<0.05). Conclusion The high expression of lncTUG1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma exosomes promotes endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis.