Microfluidic model for endothelial to mesenchymal transition (ENDMT) induced by melanoma-derived exosomes

Abstract

Melanoma-derived exosomes have been known to play a significant role in the formation of tumor environment by initiating angiogenic processes and triggering metastatic evolution [1]. Recent studies have reported that the melanoma-derived exosomes triggered endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT); this cellular transition induced the differentiation of endothelial cells to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) and increased the expression level of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) [2, 3]. However, an enabling tool in vitro is yet to be developed in order to investigate how cancer-derived exosomes induce the EndMT and cause the differentiation of endothelial cells to the CAFs. Here we suggest an in vitro microfluidic model that allows for monitoring a synergetic effect of both interstitial flow and the melanoma-derived exosomes on the EndMT. © 15CBMS-0001.