Exosomal MicroRNA-1257 from Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSCs) Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Induces Cell Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer

The role of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomal microRNA-1257 (miR-1257) in ovarian cancer (OC) was explored in this research. BMSCs were cultured and the exosomes (exo) were isolated from BMSCs. OC cells were co-cultured with BMSC-exo or BMSC-exo transfected with miR-1257 inhibitor. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, cell proliferative ability was tested by MTT assay, and apoptotic protein Bax and anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 were assessed by Western blot. MiR-1257 was downregulated in OC cells and tissues, which was closely related to the poor prognosis. The co-culture of BMSC-exo with OC cells upregulated the transcription level of miR-1257, inhibited cell proliferation, and enhanced apoptosis. After silencing of miR-1257, the effects of BMSC-exo on apoptosis and proliferation were eliminated, Bax expression increased, and Bcl-2 level decreased. MiR-1257 from BMSC-exo inhibits the progression of OC.