Exosomal miR-3126-5p derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts facilitates glycolysis to accelerate NSCLC progression by targeting KLF13 to activate the SH2B1/IRS1 axis

Background: As a critical component of the tumour microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) actively drive the malignant advancement of non-small-cell lung Cancer (NSCLC); however, their underlying mechanisms continue to be poorly characterized. This work examined the role of CAFs-derived exosomal miR-3126-5p in the glycolysis of NSCLC cells.

Methods: Glycolysis was evaluated by lactate production, glucose uptake, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Cell proliferation and cycle were evaluated by CCK-8, EdU staining, and flow cytometry. Src homology 2B adaptor protein 1 (SH2B1) and Insulin Receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) protein interaction was tested by Co-IP and GST pull-down assay. ChIP, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and EMSA determined the binding of kruppel-like factor 13 (KLF13) to the SH2B1 promoter. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to assess miR-3126-5p binding to KLF13 3'-UTR. In vivo growth of NSCLC was determined in the mouse xenograft and Lewis lung carcinoma models.

Results: CAFs-derived exosomal miR-3126-5p was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues, and its elevated plasma level was significantly associated with poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. CAFs-derived exosomal miR-3126-5p facilitated glycolysis to accelerate the malignant progression of NSCLC cells. KLF13 exhibited reduced expression in NSCLC, while its overexpression suppressed NSCLC growth via repressing glycolysis. Exosomal miR-3126-5p targeted KLF13 3'-UTR to inhibit its expression in NSCLC cells. KLF13 transcriptionally inhibited SH2B1 expression to abolish the interaction between SH2B1 and IRS1 proteins, thus repressing PI3K/Akt pathway-mediated glycolysis. KLF13 knockdown counteracted the anti-cancer action of exosomal miR-3126-5p inhibition.

Conclusion: CAFs-derived exosomal miR-3126-5p accelerated NSCLC progression via inhibiting KLF13 expression, which transcriptionally activated SH2B1 to promote its interaction with IRS1, thereby promoting PI3K/Akt pathway-mediated glycolysis. Our findings position CAFs-secreted exosomal miR-3126-5p as a novel therapeutic intervention with potential in NSCLC management.

Highlights: CAFs-derived exosomal miR-3126-5p enhanced glycolysis of NSCLC cells via targeting KLF13. KLF13 led to transcriptional inhibition of SH2B1 in NSCLC cells. SH2B1 interplayed with IRS1 to facilitate glycolysis of NSCLC cells. IRS1 promoted glycolysis of NSCLC cells via the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway.

KLF13; SH2B1; cancer‐associated fibroblasts; exosomal miR‐3126‐5p; glycolysis; non‐small‐cell lung cancer.