Neural stem cell‑derived exosomes transfer miR‑124‑3p into cells to inhibit glioma growth by targeting FLOT2

Abstract

Currently, exosomes (EXOs) are being explored as novel drug delivery carriers with greater advantages, including crossing the blood‑brain‑barrier and loading drugs. The present study utilized EXOs derived from neural stem cells (NSCs) for the delivery of molecular drugs to treat gliomas. <em>miR‑124‑3p</em> was selected according to previous studies by the authors, and the effects of the delivery of miR‑124‑3p to glioma cells by NSC‑EXOs <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> were evaluated. It was found that NSC‑EXOs successfully delivered miR‑124‑3p into glioma cells, and NSC‑EXOs loaded with miR‑124‑3p significantly inhibited glioma cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Furthermore, the delivery of miR‑124‑3p by NSC‑EXOs suppressed flotillin 2 (FLOT2) expression by specifically binding to the 3' untranslated region of the <em>FLOT2</em> gene in gliomas; subsequently, AKT1 was found to be associated with the EXO‑miR‑124‑3p/FLOT2 pathway. Moreover, the therapeutic effects of the delivery of miR‑124‑3p by NSC‑EXOs were confirmed in a mouse tumor xenograft model of glioma. Thus, bio‑carrier NSC‑EXOs loaded with miR‑124‑3p suppressed glioma growth via the EXO‑miR‑124‑3p/<em>FLOT2/AKT1</em> pathway. On the whole, the present study provides insight into stem cell‑free molecular‑targeted therapy based on bio‑carrier NSC‑EXOs and provides a potential strategy for the treatment of glioma.