Metabolomic Analysis of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Pancreatic Cancer Cells Cultured under Normoxia and Hypoxia

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from cancer cells contribute to various malignant phenotypes of cancer, including metastasis, cachexia, and angiogenesis. Although DNA, mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins contained in EVs have been extensively studied, the function of metabolites in EVs remains unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of pancreatic cancer cells, PANC-1, cultured under different oxygen concentrations, and small EVs (sEVs) released from them, considering the fact that hypoxia contributes to the malignant behavior of cells in pancreatic cancer, which is a poorly diagnosed cancer. sEVs were collected by ultracentrifugation, and hydrophilic metabolites were analyzed using capillary ion chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and lipids were analyzed by supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 140 hydrophilic metabolites and 494 lipids were detected in sEVs, and their profiles were different from those in cells. In addition, the metabolomic profile of sEVs was observed to change under hypoxic stress, and an increase in metabolites involved in angiogenesis was also detected. We reveal the hallmark of the metabolites contained in sEVs and the effect of tumor hypoxia on their profiles, which may help in understanding EV-mediated cancer malignancy.

Automated summary

This study conducted a comprehensive metabolomic analysis of pancreatic cancer cells and the small EVs released from them. It was found that the metabolites in sEVs differed from those in cells, and the metabolomic profile of sEVs changed under hypoxic stress, with an increase in metabolites involved in angiogenesis. These findings provide insights into the role of metabolites in EV-mediated cancer malignancy.