bims-exocan 2024-11-10 papers

Issue of 2024–11–10
four papers selected by
Muhammad Rizwan, COMSATS University

ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2024 Nov 04.

Immune Cell-Derived Exosomes: A Cell-Free Cutting-Edge Tumor Immunotherapy.

Ranjini Sengupta, Ibrahim S Topiwala, Meghana Shakthi A, Rajib Dhar, Arikketh Devi.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cellular communication molecules and are classified into three major subpopulations, such as microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, and exosomes. Among these, exosomes-based cancer research is a cutting-edge investigation approach to cancer understanding. During cancer progression , tumor-derived exosomes can reprogram the cellular system and promote cancer. Circulating exosomes in the body fluids such as blood, plasma, serum, saliva, CSF, sweat, and tears play a key role in identifying diagnostic and prognostic cancer biomarkers. Diverse therapeutic sources of exosomes including stem cells, plants, and immune cells, etc. exhibit significant cancer-healing properties. Although cancer-targeting immunotherapy is an effective strategy, it has limitations such as toxicity, and high costs. In comparison, immune cell-derived exosomes-based immunotherapy is a cell-free approach for cancer treatment and has advantages like less toxicity, biocompatibility, reduced immunogenicity, and efficient, target-specific cancer therapeutic development. This review highlights the therapeutic signature of immune cell-derived exosomes for cancer treatment.

Keywords: Cancer; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Immunotherapy; Metastasis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.4c00660

Front Immunol. 2024 ;15 1473030

The role of exosomes in liver cancer: comprehensive insights from biological function to therapeutic applications.

Yinghui Zhang, Congcong Zhang, Nan Wu, Yuan Feng, Jiayi Wang, Liangliang Ma, Yulong Chen.

In recent years, cancer, especially primary liver cancer (including hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), has posed a serious threat to human health. In the field of liver cancer, exosomes play an important role in liver cancer initiation, metastasis and interaction with the tumor microenvironment. Exosomes are a class of nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs)secreted by most cells and rich in bioactive molecules, including RNA, proteins and lipids, that mediate intercellular communication during physiological and pathological processes. This review reviews the multiple roles of exosomes in liver cancer, including the initiation, progression, and metastasis of liver cancer, as well as their effects on angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), immune evasion, and drug resistance. Exosomes have great potential as biomarkers for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis because they carry specific molecular markers that facilitate early detection and evaluation of treatment outcomes. In addition, exosomes, as a new type of drug delivery vector, have unique advantages in the targeted therapy of liver cancer and provide a new strategy for the treatment of liver cancer. The challenges and prospects of exosome-based immunotherapy in the treatment of liver cancer were also discussed. However, challenges such as the standardization of isolation techniques and the scalability of therapeutic applications remain significant hurdles.

Keywords: biological functions; diagnostic biomarker; exosomes; immunosuppression; liver cancer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1473030

Inflamm Regen. 2024 Nov 04. 44(1): 45

Focusing on exosomes to overcome the existing bottlenecks of CAR-T cell therapy.

Si-Heng Zhang, Ling-Long Peng, Yi-Fei Chen, Yan Xu, Vahid Moradi.

Since chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells were introduced three decades ago, the treatment using these cells has led to outstanding outcomes, and at the moment, CAR-T cell therapy is a well-established mainstay for treating CD19 + malignancies and multiple myeloma. Despite the astonishing results of CAR-T cell therapy in B-cell-derived malignancies, several bottlenecks must be overcome to promote its safety and efficacy and broaden its applicability. These bottlenecks include cumbersome production process, safety concerns of viral vectors, poor efficacy in treating solid tumors, life-threatening side effects, and dysfunctionality of infused CAR-T cells over time. Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that are secreted by all living cells and play an essential role in cellular crosstalk by bridging between cells. In this review, we discuss how the existing bottlenecks of CAR-T cell therapy can be overcome by focusing on exosomes. First, we delve into the effect of tumor-derived exosomes on the CAR-T cell function and discuss how inhibiting their secretion can enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy. Afterward, the application of exosomes to the manufacturing of CAR-T cells in a non-viral approach is discussed. We also review the latest advancements in ex vivo activation and cultivation of CAR-T cells using exosomes, as well as the potential of engineered exosomes to in vivo induction or boost the in vivo proliferation of CAR-T cells. Finally, we discuss how CAR-engineered exosomes can be used as a versatile tool for the direct killing of tumor cells or delivering intended therapeutic payloads in a targeted manner.

Keywords: Anti-tumor agents; CAR-T cell; Cancer immunotherapy; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Targeted therapies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-024-00358-x

Curr Med Chem. 2024 Nov 04.

The Mechanism of Action of Exosomes Derived from Glioblastoma Cells.

Ozal Beylerli, Ilgiz Gareev, Tatiana Ilyasova, Elmar Musaev, Vladimir Chekhonin.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and lethal brain tumor characterized by rapid growth, invasive behavior, and resistance to conventional therapies, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Despite these interventions, patient survival remains poor due to the tumor's ability to recur and adapt to treatments. The function of GBM-derived exosomes (GBM-exosomes) as essential mediators in tumor growth has drawn attention in recent years. These small extracellular vesicles are involved in the transfer of a variety of molecules, including cytokines, miRNAs, proteins, and DNA, facilitating intercellular communication that promotes GBM cell proliferation, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and resistance to therapies. This review aims to provide an in- -depth examination of the mechanisms through which GBM-exosomes contribute to these pathological processes, as well as to discuss the current methodologies for isolating and characterizing GBM exosomes. Additionally, we explore the potential of exosomes as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis and as novel therapeutic targets in the fight against GBM. By improving our understanding of GBM-exosomes, we can pave the way for the development of more effective, personalized treatment strategies that may improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords: Glioblastoma; angiogenesis; cell proliferation; drug resistance; exosomes; immune evasion

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0109298673344390241017065119