Activated Human T Cells Secrete Exosomes That Participate in IL-2 Mediated Immune Response Signaling

Abstract

It has previously been shown that nano-meter sized vesicles (30–100 nm), exosomes, secreted by antigen presenting cells can induce T cell responses thus showing the potential of exosomes to be used as immunological tools. Additionally, activated CD3+ T cells can secrete exosomes that have the ability to modulate different immunological responses. Here, we investigated what effects exosomes originating from activated CD3+ T cells have on resting CD3+ T cells by studying T cell proliferation, cytokine production and by performing T cell and exosome phenotype characterization. Human exosomes were generated in vitro following CD3+ T cell stimulation with anti-CD28, anti-CD3 and IL-2. Our results show that exosomes purified from stimulated CD3+ T cells together with IL-2 were able to generate proliferation in autologous resting CD3+ T cells. The CD3+ T cells stimulated with exosomes together with IL-2 had a higher proportion of CD8+ T cells and had a different cytokine profile compared to controls. These results indicate that activated CD3+ T cells communicate with resting autologous T cells via exosomes.

Critical role of extracellular vesicles in modulating the cellular effects of cytokines

“…A similar pattern of regulation was observed by Wahlgren et al [19] who looked at the combined effects of IL-2 and autologous exosomes on the cytokine profile of T lymphocytes. Conspicuously, we found that the genes repressed by treatment with EVs in this study outnumbered the genes enhanced by EV treatment.…”

Human T-lymphotropic Virus Type 1-infected Cells Secrete Exosomes That Contain Tax Protein

“…Nanovesicles called exosomes play important roles in intercellular communication, cellular inflammation, antigen presentation, programmed cell death, and pathogenesis (25)(26)(27)(28)(29). Recently, much interest has developed in mechanisms of extracellular delivery of nucleic acids and proteins among virally infected and uninfected bystander cells, and exosomes have been shown to play an important role in viral pathogenesis and control of host immune responses to infection (28, 30 -32).…”

Dendritic cells loaded with HeLa-derived exosomes simulate an antitumor immune response

“…An exosome is a microcapsule membranous structure secreted from living cells and its functions vary depending on the cell source (10)(11)(12). Previous studies have primarily focused on exosomes derived from tumor cells and DCs.…”