Evaluation of exosomes encapsulated recombinant Interleukin-29 for its in vitro anticancer studies

• Published in: Journal of biotechnology 2023-08, Vol.373, p.24-33
• Main Authors: Fujimura, Nao Akusa, Fatima, Seerat E., Ahmed, Nadeem, Akram, Muhammad, Tahir, Saad, Khan, Mohsin Ahmad, Amirzada, Imran, Nadeem, Tariq, Bashir, Hamid, Malik, Kausar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer treatment; Exosomes; IL-29 encapsulated exosomes; Nanoparticles; Recombinant IL-29
• ISSN: 0168-1656; 1873-4863
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.06.008

Exosomes have recently been considered ideal biotherapeutic nanocarriers that broaden the frontiers of current drug delivery systems to overcome the shortcomings associated with cytokine-based immunotherapy. Using this approach, the current study aimed to assess anti-proliferative activity of purified IL-29 and exosomes encapsulated IL-29. The IL‐29+pET‐28a construct was transformed into Rosetta 2(DE3) cells which was used for the large-scale production of IL-29. Exosomes isolated from H1HeLa, and SF-767 cells using Total Exosome Isolation reagent were loaded with IL-29 via sonication. Isolation of exosomes was validated using their core protein signature by western blotting and specific miRNA profiles by RT-PCR. The drug loading efficiency of exosomes derived from H1HeLa cells was higher than that of SF-767-derived exosomes. The drug release kinetics of IL-29 encapsulated exosomes exhibited stable release of the recombinant drug. Around 50% of all cancer cell lines survived when IL-29 was administered at a concentration of 20 µg/mL. A survival rate of less than 10% was observed when cells were treated with 20 µg/mL IL-29 loaded exosomes. It was concluded that IL-29 loaded exosomes had a more significant cytotoxic effect against cancer cells, which might be attributed to sustained drug release, improved half-life, superior targeting efficacy, capacity to harness endogenous intracellular trafficking pathways, and heightened biocompatibility of exosomes. •Interleukin-29 is being considered a new star for targeted immunotherapy against cancers cells of certain lineages.•The current study focused on the comparative analysis of anticancer potential of IL-29 and exosomes encapsulated IL-29.•IL-29 was expressed in Rosetta 2(DE3) and purified using IMAC chromatography, and exosomes were isolated from cancer cells.•Naïve exosomes were characterized using core protein signature and specific miRNA profile.•IL-29 encapsulation in exosomes was done via sonication and anticancer potential of IL-29 loaded exosomes were analyzed.