Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Their Role in Immune Cells and Immunotherapy

Int J Nanomedicine. 2021 Aug 10:16:5395-5409. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S313912. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Nowadays, tumor has been the serious threat to human health and life. To further explore the mechanism of tumor genesis and development is necessarily for developing the effective treatment strategy. Extracellular vesicles are the vesicles secreted by almost all types of cells, and they play an important part in intercellular communication by transporting their cargoes. Immune cells are the vital components of the human defense system, which defense against infection and tumor through cytotoxicity, immune surveillance, and clearance. However, via release tumor-derived extracellular vesicles, tumor could induce immune cells dysfunction to facilitate its proliferation and metastasis. Studies have shown that tumor-derived extracellular vesicles play dual role on immune cells by their specific cargoes. Here, we reviewed the effects of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles on immune cells in recent years and also summarized their research progress in the tumor immunotherapy and diagnosis.

Keywords: drug delivery; immune cell; immunotherapy; regulatory effects; tumor-derived extracellular vesicles.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Communication
  • Extracellular Vesicles* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / therapy

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant number 2020M673491); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant number 3102020smxy007); and the Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (grant number S202010699401).