Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy

Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles involved in cell homeostasis. Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) promote tumor progression by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), inhibiting T and NK cell activity, preventing dendritic cell maturation, and expanding immunosuppressive...

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Main Authors: Martina Morini, Chiara Vitale, Martina Ardito, Alessandra Dondero, Katia Cortese, Cristina Bottino, Roberta Castriconi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600062/full
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author Martina Morini
Chiara Vitale
Martina Ardito
Alessandra Dondero
Katia Cortese
Cristina Bottino
Cristina Bottino
Roberta Castriconi
Roberta Castriconi
author_facet Martina Morini
Chiara Vitale
Martina Ardito
Alessandra Dondero
Katia Cortese
Cristina Bottino
Cristina Bottino
Roberta Castriconi
Roberta Castriconi
author_sort Martina Morini
collection DOAJ
description Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles involved in cell homeostasis. Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) promote tumor progression by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), inhibiting T and NK cell activity, preventing dendritic cell maturation, and expanding immunosuppressive cell populations. Cancer Stem Cell (CSC)-derived exosomes further trigger functional changes in immune cells subsets, enhancing immune suppression. Consequently, blocking the release or the uptake of TDEs significantly impact immunotherapy efficacy, making them potential therapeutic targets. On the other hand, NK cell-derived exosomes can be engineered to carry immune-activating molecules or inhibitors of immune checkpoint molecules to elicit immune responses. This review highlights the interplay between TDEs and immune cells, particularly NK cells, in different tumors, with a focus on neuroblastoma, and explores exosome-based strategies to improve immunotherapy efficacy.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1664-3224
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-be6b71b7adc84a2cb4a994b9864dbd4b2025-08-20T03:48:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16000621600062Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapyMartina Morini0Chiara Vitale1Martina Ardito2Alessandra Dondero3Katia Cortese4Cristina Bottino5Cristina Bottino6Roberta Castriconi7Roberta Castriconi8Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyLaboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, ItalyLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, ItalyExosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles involved in cell homeostasis. Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) promote tumor progression by creating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), inhibiting T and NK cell activity, preventing dendritic cell maturation, and expanding immunosuppressive cell populations. Cancer Stem Cell (CSC)-derived exosomes further trigger functional changes in immune cells subsets, enhancing immune suppression. Consequently, blocking the release or the uptake of TDEs significantly impact immunotherapy efficacy, making them potential therapeutic targets. On the other hand, NK cell-derived exosomes can be engineered to carry immune-activating molecules or inhibitors of immune checkpoint molecules to elicit immune responses. This review highlights the interplay between TDEs and immune cells, particularly NK cells, in different tumors, with a focus on neuroblastoma, and explores exosome-based strategies to improve immunotherapy efficacy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600062/fullexosomesimmunotherapytumor microenvironmentneuroblastomaNK cellscancer stem cells
spellingShingle Martina Morini
Chiara Vitale
Martina Ardito
Alessandra Dondero
Katia Cortese
Cristina Bottino
Cristina Bottino
Roberta Castriconi
Roberta Castriconi
Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
Frontiers in Immunology
exosomes
immunotherapy
tumor microenvironment
neuroblastoma
NK cells
cancer stem cells
title Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
title_full Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
title_fullStr Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
title_short Exosomes and immune modulation: implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
title_sort exosomes and immune modulation implications for neuroblastoma immunotherapy
topic exosomes
immunotherapy
tumor microenvironment
neuroblastoma
NK cells
cancer stem cells
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600062/full
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