Exosomes在肿瘤免疫方面的研究进展

Progress in Research on Role of Exosomes in Tumor Immunity

Exosomes是由细胞多囊体形成的一种膜性小囊泡,其来源十分广泛。Exosomes的功能最初被认为仅仅是降解内吞物质,但经多年来的研究发现,exosomes的特异功能与其来源细胞密切相关。其携带多种独特的蛋白,如黏附蛋白、热休克蛋白等,它们在信号传导中起重要作用。由于exosomes能够传递抗原给T细胞,使其在免疫系统中也具有重要作用,可作为一种免疫治疗的新手段,应用于肿瘤治疗和免疫耐受等方面。本文主要对exosomes诱导抗肿瘤免疫应答和免疫抑制两方面的功能机制作一综述。

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles formed by multivesicular body of many cells. Their function was considered as only degrading endocytic substances at first. However, the study during the past several years has proved that the specific function of exosomes are closely associated with the cells from which they are derived. Exosomes carry several unique proteins, such as adhesion protein and heat-shock protein, and play important roles in signal transduction. Since exosomes can deliver antigen to T cells, they are also important to immune system. As a novel tool for immune therapy, exosomes may be used for the treatment of tumors and immune tolerance. The mechanisms of exosomes in induction of anti-tumor immune response and immune suppression are reviewed in this paper.