Background: Exosomes are newly recognized natural nanocarrier and intercellular messenger that emerge as important mediators of signal transmission. Exosomes have been reported to modulate the inflammatory response of a number of diseases. This study investigated the effects of circulating exosomes from oral lichen planus (OLP) on T cells.
Methods: Plasma-derived exosomes were purified from both OLP patients and control groups. T cells were observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope after co-cultivation with PKH67 labeled exosomes for 12, 24, and 48 hours. The effects of exosomes exposure on T cells were analyzed with several functional assays, investigating proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Production of interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -10, and interferon (IFN)-γ was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: PKH67-labeled exosomes were taken up by T cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Several biological functions of T cells were promoted. In particular, the circulating erosive OLP exosomes significantly enhanced T-cell proliferation and attenuated the apoptosis. The migration capacity of T cells increased remarkably in response to erosive OLP exosome treatment. In addition, the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 was significantly elevated in OLP patients.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the circulating OLP exosomes are involved in the biological functions of T cells, potentially promoting the OLP progression by regulating the T-cell-mediated inflammatory response.
Keywords: T cells; exosomes; inflammation; oral lichen planus.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.