Exosomes in Cancer: Circulating Immune-Related Biomarkers

Abstract

Exosomes, the smallest vesicles (30–100 nm) among multivesicular bodies, are released by all body cells including tumor cells. The cargo they transfer plays an important role in intercellular communication. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) maintain interactions between cancer cells and the microenvironment. Emerging evidence suggests that tumor cells release a large number of exosomes, which may not only influence proximal tumor cells and stromal cells in the local microenvironment but can also exert systemic effects as they are circulating in the blood. TEXs have been shown to boost tumor growth promote progression and metastatic spread via suppression or modification of the immune response towards cancer cells, regulation of tumor neo-angiogenesis, pre-metastatic niche formation, and therapy resistance. In addition, recent studies in patients with cancer suggest that TEXs could serve as tumor biomarker reflecting partially the genetic and molecular content of the parent cancer cell (i.e., as a so-called “liquid biopsy”). Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that exosomes may have immunotherapeutic applications, or can act as a drug delivery system for targeted therapies with drugs and biomolecules.

1. Introduction

Exosomes, which are a subset of extracellular vesicles (EV) are small, lipid bilayer membrane vesicles (30–100 nm) derived from the luminal membrane of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), which are constitutively released by fusion with the cell membrane (Figure 1) [1–3]. Exosomes carry a complex biomolecular cargo which includes proteins, peptides, lipids, and nucleic acids. Interestingly, the genetic cargo of exosomes, such as mRNA and miRNA can be translated or can regulate gene expression in the recipient or target cells [4]. Exosomes are discharged from many cell types including red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and cancer cells [5]. A growing body of evidence emphasizes their role in pathophysiological processes including malignancies, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Current research focusses on the tumor-promoting roles of exosomes. Tumor growth, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, metastasis, and immune surveillance have been shown to be promoted by exosomes [6, 7]. Studies of plasma-derived exosomes in patients with malignancies indicate that tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) reflect in part the molecular and genetic content of the parent tumor cells. In addition, the molecular cargo of immune cell-derived exosomes (IEX) might serve as biomarkers of immune dysfunction, which facilitates tumor escape. The individual analysis of plasma-derived TEX and IEX by fractionation is expected to identify biomarkers relevant to the tumor as well as determine the immune competence of the cancer patient [8].

Figure 1.

An illustration presents the differences in extracellular vesicles (EV) differentiated on the basis of size, released by donor cells, both normal as well as tumor cells (2, 3, modif.).

2. Biogenesis of Exosomes

In contrast to microvesicles, which are secreted by budding from the cell membrane, exosomes show a complex multistep biogenesis, which can be dependent on or independent of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT). ESCRT is a multimolecular machinery, which is recruited to the endosomal membrane for the orchestration of the individual steps of exosome biogenesis [9]. Alternatively, an ESCRT-independent pathway has been described. For this pathway, the specific lipid composition of the endosomal membrane was considered to be of relevance for the exosome biogenesis. Following the formation of MVBs, which is a crucial step in exosome biogenesis, Rab GTPases govern their degradation as well as their secretion [10, 11]. The final release of exosomes occurs upon the fusion of MVBs with the cellular plasma membrane, a process which is probably mediated, at least in part, by soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) [12]. Exosome secretion is regulated by various factors, which include mainly environmental changes [13]. Furthermore, the release of exosomes is an effective mechanism, by which cells regulate their internal stress states and modulate the extracellular environment [14]. In the tumor microenvironment, cancer cells are exposed to stressful conditions, such as hypoxia, chemotherapeutics, irradiation, starvation, or other patient-specific factors. One reaction to this microenvironment is the accelerated release of exosomes by cancer cells. Especially hypoxia is an important environmental factor for the secretion of exosomes, since cells produce higher levels of exosomes under hypoxia and the oxygenation status of the parent cells is reflected in the cargo composition of the released exosomes [15]. Exosome-mediated signaling in cancers is thus influenced by various stressful situations [16], and can promote cancer development through interaction between the cancer cells and the neighboring stroma, the stimulation of proliferative and angiogenic signaling, the progression of immune repression, and the initiation of premetastatic niches [17, 18]. Exosomes bind at the cell surface of the recipient cells through specific receptors or undergo internalization by endocytosis or micropinocytosis, following fusion with internal sections [19, 20]. They play crucial roles in most physiological processes in tissues and organs [21].

3. Exosome Protein Cargo Secretion and Uptake

Exosomes are defined by a complex cargo consisting out of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Since many different cell types secrete exosomes (e.g., immune cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and cancer cells) and the cargo composition highly varies dependent on the cell of origin, exosomes can be involved in diverse physiological and pathological processes, such as antigen presentation, tissue repair, intercellular cross-talk, and tumor progression [22–24]. The protein content of exosomes can be used for the characterization of exosomes. Some proteins can be found in exosomes regardless of their origin and are considered as “exosome markers”. These include TSG101, Alix, Rab GTPases, heat shock proteins (HSP70, HSP90), integrins, tetraspanins (CD9, CD63, CD81), and MHC class II proteins. Additionally, exosomes can contain genetic material such as mRNA, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and microRNA (miRNA) [25] (Figures 2 and 3). The cargo of exosomes mostly reflects the parent cells; however, the composition of exosomes can be different from the cells of their origin due to the selective sorting of cargo into exosomes [26–28]. Exosomes bind at the cell surface of the recipient cells through specific receptors or undergo internalization by various different pathways [19, 20]. The basic mechanism is endocytosis, whereby the extracellular vesicle is engulfed by the recipient cell [29]. There are several mechanisms of endocytosis, such as clathrin-dependent or -independent, caveolin-mediated, macropinocytosis, phagocytosis, and lipid raft-mediated endocytosis. The utilization of those pathways highly depends on the exosomal cargo, the type of recipient cell, and the composition of the cell surface. Additionally, the microenvironment plays a crucial role in exosome internalization [30]. Another mechanism for exosomes uptake is fusion, whereby the exosomes fuse with the membranes of the recipient cell and the content of the vesicle is released into the cell. Fusion efficiency is enhanced in an acidic microenvironment [15, 31].

Figure 2.

An illustration presents the profiles of exosomes derived from dendritic cells (DEXs). These exosomes may be immunostimulatory. DEXs were found to possess a variety of surface membrane proteins, which could potentially stimulate CD8+ and CD4+ T cells; allow for effective targeting and docking to recipient cells; which are postulated to participate in exosome/acceptor cell interactions, or activate NK (Natural Killer) cells leading to cytokine regulation and immunoglobulin synthesis (26, modif.).

Figure 3.

A simplified illustration of some of the different components of exosome cargo (depending on the tumor cell of origin) to highlight the functional changes, that may be induced in recipient cell resulting in tumor progression and metastasis (27, modif.).

4. The Biological Function of Exosomes in Cancer

4.1. Tumorigenesis and Promotion of Tumor Growth

Exosomes are key mediators of intercellular communications between local and distant parts of the body; in cancer, they provide a means to sustain tumor growth and aggressiveness [32]. Numerous results have established tumor-derived exosomes and their specific cargo as key regulators of tumor neo-angiogenesis [33], therapy resistance [34], and pre-metastatic niche formation [35]. In addition, TEXs are important mediators of tumor immune escape and regulation of T cell homeostasis [36–41]. Exosomes released by tumor cells express immunosuppressive molecules such as Fas-ligand (FasL) [42], tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and interleukin 10 (IL-10), neo-angiogenesis factors, as well as microenvironment conditioning factors, e.g., transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and ectoenzymes engaged in the adenosine pathway (CD39 and CD73) [43–45]. TEXs carry a variety of molecules within their cargo Figure 2 [26]. Among the most characterized, are small (17–24 nucleotides), one-stranded, noncoding fragments of RNA called microRNA (miRNA), which regulate many biological cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, or tumorigenesis [46–53]. Regulating gene transcription, exosomal miRNA trigger mostly pro-cancerous alterations, which we can observe as decreased expression of suppressor genes and intensification of inflammatory processes or drug resistance. This role assigned them the name oncomiRNAs [51, 54–56]. Correlated with tumorigenesis, oncomiRNAs include miR-21, miR-223, miR-210, miR-92a, miR-105, miR- 23b, miR-224, miR-921, and miR29 [57]. Studies of TEX in patients with a variety of cancers attempt to correlate the levels of these exosomes and tumor progression. The data show that the promotion of tumor growth is accompanied by an increased expression level of genes encoding miR-21, necessary for proliferation of tumor cells, their migration, and enhanced invasiveness [58]. Other oncomiRNAs involved in the process of invading noncancerous cells within the tumor microenvironment include miR-223 and miR-105, which were observed in breast cancer cell lines SKBR3, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, respectively. MiR-105 decreased expression of ZO-1 gene encoding Tight Junction Protein-1 in endothelial cells providing increased permeability and as a consequence, facilitated metastasis [59, 60]. Mi-RNAs from the family of let-7 regulate expression of proto-oncogenes RAS and HMGA2, which gives them, likewise miR-23b, miR-224, and miR-921, invasive potential [61, 62]. Promotion of tumor growth and metastasis may also follow stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine release, through pathways other than regulation of gene expression. In this scheme, miR-21 and miR-29 play the role of toll-like-receptor ligands. Activation of TLR receptors present on immune cells stimulates NF-κB (Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells), and as a consequence generates an inflammatory state in the tumor microenvironment [63].

4.2. Tumor Angiogenesis and Metastasis

Angiogenesis is another component of tumor formation, that the TEX's miRNAs are involved in. Studies on different cancer cell lines demonstrates that the release of TEXs carrying miR-210, miR17-92, and especially miR92a, (which provide a pro-angiogenic effect), is elevated. It was illustrated that miR-92a inhibits the synthesis of integrin α5 in endothelial cells, which increased cell junctions and migration potential [64, 65]. TEXs can modify normal cells pheno- and genotype, not only by microRNA, but also oncogene EGFRvIII transfer or by enhancing mRNA expression for pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), and IL-8, thereby enabling tumor cell adhesion to endothelium, resulting in metastasis [66–68]. Adherence and simultaneous stimulation of fibroblastic stroma to release pro-angiogenic factors are supported by ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and VCAM (vascular adhesion molecule), carried also by TEXs [69]. Moreover, some TEXs influence angiogenesis directly by VEGF/VEGFR—vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor cargo or pro-angiogenic lipids like S1P [70, 71]. The invasive and migrative potential of tumor cells, apart from adhesive proteins' presence and pro-angiogenic factors, also depends on their ability to degrade extracellular matrix proteins. Studies showed that some TEXs carry metalloproteinases like MMP2, MMP9, MT1-MMP, their inductor EMMPRIN (extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer), or inactive zymogenes as well as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), which activates zymogenes, and finally, Cathepsin β, which is activated at low pH, characteristic for the tumor environment. These factors are responsible for the degradation of collagen, fibrinolysis, and destruction of the extracellular matrix, respectively [71–74].

4.3. Tumor Immune Escape

Tumor development can take place unrepressed, because immune surveillance is diminished, as a result of modulation by TEXs [75]. Lack of aberration recognition is possible by different pathways, such as immune cell modulation by exosomal miRNAs. In a variety of cancer types overexpression of miR-9 is observed, which inhibits MHC I (Major Histocompatibility Complex) protein expression on tumor cells; or miR-222 and miR-339, thus decreasing gene expression encoding ICAM-1 adhesive protein, leading to the dysfunctional recognition of tumor cells by the immune system [75–77]. Moreover, among suppressor miRNAs released by TEXs in the tumor microenvironment, we can list miR-23b, miR-224, miR-921, and the let-7 family [57]. Another strategy of tumor immune escape is through the defective recognition of tumor cells by Tc lymphocytes and NK cells, caused by a loss of antigens as a consequence of increased TEXs excretion [78]. In the same way, tumor cells can lose caspase 3, the executive enzyme of apoptosis, probably leading to enhanced tumor cell survival [79]. TEXs also affect effector and regulatory lymphocytes in contrasting methods. Studies showed TEX can inhibit the proliferation of Tc cells by decreasing IL-2 level, essential to this process. On the other hand, TEX carrying FasL, TRAIL, or galectin 9 molecules, can stimulate apoptosis of Tc [80, 81]. In contrast, TEXs promote the expansion and activity of inhibitors of the immune response (Treg and MDSC) [68, 82]. It was observed that melanoma- and colorectal cancer-derived exosomes, after incubation with monocytes, promote their differentiation into MDSC, and moreover stimulate them to release transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), inhibiting proliferation of T lymphocytes, and as a result negatively influence differentiation into dendritic cells [83, 84].

4.4. Drug Resistance

The TEXs role is assigned not only to tumor growth promotion, but also to participation in drug resistance. It is summarized, that TEXs can act directly by effluxing chemotherapeutic drugs from tumor cells or indirectly by carrying glycoprotein P, essential in the multidrug resistance process, to cells that are sensitive to cancer therapies [75, 85]. Some studies demonstrate TEXs take part in doxorubicin or cisplatin elimination from ovarian tumor resistant cells [82, 86]. Disturbance of immunotherapies against cancer is maintained by recognizing and binding tumor-reactive antibodies by TEXs, and carrying tumor antigens instead of antigens present on tumor cells, which dramatically reduces Ab-dependent anticancer mechanisms [87, 88].

5. Exosomes as Cancer Therapeutic Targets

Exosomes present in plasma, represent a slight percent of its total proteins composition, but contain diversified molecular profiles, strictly depending on the cell they originated from. It correlates with the type of cancer and even with the progression stage, which gives rise to the potential use for them as biomarkers [89–92]. As exosomes can be used in cancer therapies, their properties have to be taken into consideration. Namely, it was observed, that exosomes derived from immune cells are resistant to lysis dependent on complement factor activation and their cargo of mRNA and microRNA is protected from degradation by RNAases, which makes them good candidates for use as a vaccine [93, 94]. Moreover, an abundance of dendritic cell-derived exosomes, (DEXs) surface proteins such as tetraspanin family, ICAM-1, MFG-E8, facilitates their interaction with target cells [95, 96]. Preclinical studies showed DEXs have the potential to activate TCD4+ and TCD8+ in melanoma and nonsmall cell lung cancer patients and present safety and feasibility of application [97–99]. It has also been reported that ascites-derived exosomes (ADE) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced strong anti-cancer T cell response in patients with advanced stages of colorectal cancer [100]. DEXs may also present their cargo to antigen presenting cells (APC), enhancing immune response and triggering NKG2D ligands, in turn stimulating NK cells, which is reflected in increased NK levels in melanoma patients in a clinical trial [97, 101–103]. At present, current research results support us with promising data regarding vaccination utilizing DEX. The advantages of DEX anti-cancer therapy include feasibility, safety, stability, and effectiveness [104, 105].

6. Conclusion

The research on exosomes is at its naissance. It is already apparent, that we have to acknowledge the new intercellular communication and the cell function regulation systems, which are established by these nanovesicles. The process of their biogenesis, secretion, and uptake grants them an important physiological function, greatly diversified by the variety of transported molecules on their surface or as cargo. The characterization of the molecula composition of exosomes, particularly those that are tumor-derived, needs to be extended following the advancement of technologies for their isolation and precise separation methods from normal cell-derived exosomes, in order to achieve the foundation for a new diagnostic tool. Exosome-mediated bioactive molecules transfer, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, influencing homeostatic changes within pheno-, genotypic adaptation and immune evasion, represent an undoubtedly huge potential for clinical and therapeutic advances. Extensive research is needed to fully understand and incorporate the application of this powerful source of new data provided by the exosomes.

Abbreviations

Rab GTPasae:

Member of Ras superfamily of monomeric G proteins

EV:

Extracellular vesicles

TSG101:

Tumor susceptibility gene 101

HMGA2:

High-mobility group AT-hook 2

S1P:

Site-1 protease.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.