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Tumor-derived exosomes confer antigen-specific immunosuppression in a murine delayed-type hypersensitivity model.

Author
Abstract
:

Exosomes are endosome-derived small membrane vesicles that are secreted by most cell types including tumor cells. Tumor-derived exosomes usually contain tumor antigens and have been used as a source of tumor antigens to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. However, many reports also suggest that tumor-derived exosomes can facilitate tumor immune evasion through different mechanisms, most of which are antigen-independent. In the present study we used a mouse model of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and demonstrated that local administration of tumor-derived exosomes carrying the model antigen chicken ovalbumin (OVA) resulted in the suppression of DTH response in an antigen-specific manner. Analysis of exosome trafficking demonstrated that following local injection, tumor-derived exosomes were internalized by CD11c+ cells and transported to the draining LN. Exosome-mediated DTH suppression is associated with increased mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and IL-4 in the draining LN. The tumor-derived exosomes examined were also found to inhibit DC maturation. Taken together, our results suggest a role for tumor-derived exosomes in inducing tumor antigen-specific immunosuppression, possibly by modulating the function of APCs.

Year of Publication
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2011
Journal
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PloS one
Volume
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6
Issue
:
8
Number of Pages
:
e22517
Date Published
:
2011
URL
:
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022517
DOI
:
10.1371/journal.pone.0022517
Short Title
:
Tumorderived exosomes confer antigenspecific immunosuppression i
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