Exosomes harbor B cell targets in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and exert decoy function against complement-mediated cytotoxicity

Nat Commun. 2019 Jan 16;10(1):254. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08109-6.

Abstract

Although B cell response is frequently found in cancer, there is little evidence that it alters tumor development or progression. The process through which tumor-associated antigens trigger humoral response is not well delineated. We investigate the repertoire of antigens associated with humoral immune response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using in-depth proteomic profiling of immunoglobulin-bound proteins from PDAC patient plasmas and identify tumor antigens that induce antibody response together with exosome hallmark proteins. Additional profiling of PDAC cell-derived exosomes reveals significant overlap in their protein content with immunoglobulin-bound proteins in PDAC plasmas, and significant autoantibody reactivity is observed between PDAC cell-derived exosomes and patient plasmas compared to healthy controls. Importantly, PDAC-derived exosomes induce a dose-dependent inhibition of PDAC serum-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. In summary, we provide evidence that exosomes display a large repertoire of tumor antigens that induce autoantibodies and exert a decoy function against complement-mediated cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibody Formation / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / blood
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cohort Studies
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology*
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Exosomes / immunology*
  • Exosomes / metabolism
  • Exosomes / ultrastructure
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Autoantibodies
  • Complement System Proteins