The roles of exosomal immune checkpoint proteins in tumors

Cheng Xing; Heng Li; Rui-Juan Li; Le Yin; Hui-Fang Zhang; Zi-Neng Huang; Zhao Cheng; Ji Li; Zhi-Hua Wang; Hong-Ling Peng

doi:10.1186/s40779-021-00350-3

The roles of exosomal immune checkpoint proteins in tumors

Mil Med Res. 2021 Nov 8;8(1):56. doi: 10.1186/s40779-021-00350-3.

Authors

Cheng Xing^{1

2}, Heng Li^{1

2}, Rui-Juan Li^{1

2}, Le Yin^{1

2}, Hui-Fang Zhang^{1

2}, Zi-Neng Huang^{1

2}, Zhao Cheng^{1

2}, Ji Li^{1

2}, Zhi-Hua Wang^{3

4}, Hong-Ling Peng^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
² Institute of Molecular Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
³ Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China. wangzhihuazsc@csu.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Molecular Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China. wangzhihuazsc@csu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China. penghongling@csu.edu.cn.
⁶ Institute of Molecular Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China. penghongling@csu.edu.cn.
⁷ Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, Changsha, 410011, China. penghongling@csu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Targeting immune checkpoints has achieved great therapeutic effects in the treatment of early-stage tumors. However, most patients develop adaptive resistance to this therapy. The latest evidence demonstrates that tumor-derived exosomes may play a key role in systemic immune suppression and tumor progression. In this article, we highlight the role of exosomal immune checkpoint proteins in tumor immunity, with an emphasis on programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), as well as emerging evidence on roles of T cell immunoglobulin-3 (TIM-3), arginase 1 (ARG1), and estrogen receptor binding fragment-associated antigen 9 (EBAG9) expressed by exosomes.

Keywords: Exosomes; Immune checkpoints; Tumor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Exosomes* / metabolism
Humans
Immune Checkpoint Proteins
Immunotherapy
Neoplasms*

Substances

Immune Checkpoint Proteins