Immunotherapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles.
Extracellular vesicle or EV is a term that encompasses all classes of secreted lipid membrane vesicles. Despite being scientific novelties, EVs are gaining importance as a mediator of important physiological and pathological intercellular activities possibly through the transfer of their cargo of protein and RNA between cells. In particular, exosomes, the currently best characterized EVs have been notable for their in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory activities. Exosomes are nanometer-sized endosome-derived vesicles secreted by many cell types and their immunomodulatory potential is independent of their cell source. Besides immune cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and T cells, cancer and stem cells also secrete immunologically active exosomes that could influence both physiological and pathological processes. The immunological activities of exosomes affect both innate and adaptive immunity and include antigen presentation, T cell activation, T cell polarization to regulatory T cells, immune suppression, and anti-inflammation. As such, exosomes carry much immunotherapeutic potential as a therapeutic agent and a therapeutic target.
Exosome and Secreted Nano-vesicle Group, ASTAR Institute of Medical Biology , Singapore.
Bin
B
Zhang
Exosome and Secreted Nano-vesicle Group, ASTAR Institute of Medical Biology , Singapore.
Yijun
Y
Yin
Exosome and Secreted Nano-vesicle Group, ASTAR Institute of Medical Biology , Singapore.
Ruenn Chai
RC
Lai
Exosome and Secreted Nano-vesicle Group, ASTAR Institute of Medical Biology , Singapore ; Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore , Singapore.
Sai Kiang
SK
Lim
adaptive immunity; exosomes; extracellular vesicles; immunomodulation; immunotherapy; innate immunity