Extracellular heat shock proteins (ex-HSPs) have been found in exosomes, oncosomes, membrane surfaces, as well as free HSP in cancer and various pathological conditions, also known as alarmins. Such ex-HSPs include HSP90 (α, β, Gp96, Trap1), HSP70, and large and small HSPs. Production of HSPs is coordinately induced by heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), while matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and heterochromatin protein 1 are novel inducers of HSPs. Oncosomes released by tumor cells are a major aspect of the resistance-associated secretory phenotype (RASP) by which immune evasion can be established. The concepts of RASP are: (i) releases of ex-HSP and HSP-rich oncosomes are essential in RASP, by which molecular co-transfer of HSPs with oncogenic factors to recipient cells can promote cancer progression and resistance against stresses such as hypoxia, radiation, drugs, and immune systems; (ii) RASP of tumor cells can eject anticancer drugs, targeted therapeutics, and immune checkpoint inhibitors with oncosomes; (iii) cytotoxic lipids can be also released from tumor cells as RASP. ex-HSP and membrane-surface HSP (mHSP) play immunostimulatory roles recognized by CD91+ scavenger receptor expressed by endothelial cells-1 (SREC-1)+ Toll-like receptors (TLRs)+ antigen-presenting cells, leading to antigen cross-presentation and T cell cross-priming, as well as by CD94+ natural killer cells, leading to tumor cytolysis. On the other hand, ex-HSP/CD91 signaling in cancer cells promotes cancer progression. HSPs in body fluids are potential biomarkers detectable by liquid biopsies in cancers and tissue-damaged diseases. HSP-based vaccines, inhibitors, and RNAi therapeutics are also reviewed.
Keywords: alarmin; biomarker; exosome; heat shock protein (HSP); hypoxia; immune evasion; immune surveillance; immunology; oncosome; resistance-associated secretory phenotype (RASP).