Serum-derived exosomes function as tumor antigens in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

• Published in: Molecular immunology 2021-06, Vol.134, p.210-217
• Main Authors: Shi, Shengbin, Wang, Lei, Wang, Cuijuan, Xu, Jun, Niu, Zuoxing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exosome levels; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Serum exosomes; Subcutaneous tumor model; Tumor antigen
• ISSN: 0161-5890; 1872-9142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.03.017

•The serum exosome levels of the patients were significantly elevated compared to the healthy control.•The AFP level in serum is not equal to that in exosome.•The exosomes derived from serum of advanced HCC shown the role of antigen. Exosomes are protein-containing vesicles that are secreted into the blood to mediate important biological and pathological processes. The present study enrolled 86 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 60 healthy controls. Serum exosome levels of the patient group were significantly elevated compared with the healthy control group (P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed between patients with serum alpha-fetoglobulin levels of less than 200 ng/mL and more than 200 ng/mL. In vitro, dendritic cells (DCs) were activated by exosomes and could promote T cell proliferation, exhibiting a killing effect on HepG2 cells. In addition, DCs loaded with tumor exosomes (DC-TEX) showed an antitumor effect in a subcutaneous tumor model. This study shows exosome levels in patients with HCC to be significantly higher than in healthy individuals. Furthermore, exosomes derived from serum of patients with advanced HCC function as tumor antigens.