Aquaporins are channel proteins, form pores in the membrane of biological cells to facilitate the transcellular and transepithelial water movement. The role of Aquaporins in carcinogenesis has become an area of interest. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells secreted exosomes on the expression of aquaporin 5 and EGFR genes in the HCT-116 tumor cell line.

Surface antigenic profile of Ad-MSCs was evaluated using specific markers. Exosomes were purified from the Ad-MSc supernatant while the quality and the shape of isolated exosomes were assessed by western blot and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. HCT-116 cells were co-cultured with MSC-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) and/or with 100 μg/ml of MSC-derived exosomes for 48 h and. Real-time PCR was carried out to determine the expression of aquaporin5 and EGFR in HCT-116. Relative expression levels were calculated using the 2^-ΔΔct method.

Our result showed that AQP5 and EGFR mRNA levels were significantly reduced in CM and/or exosomes treated HCT116 compare to the control group (P-value < 0.05).

The current study showed that MSC derived exosomes could inhibit expression of two important molecules involved in tumor progression. Hence it seems MSCs-derived exosomes may hold a hopeful future as drug delivery vehicles which need the furtherer investigation.