Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy

This manuscript assesses the critical role of exosomal PD-L1 (ExoPD-L1) in immune suppression, tumor progression, and resistance to therapy. ExoPD-L1 has been identified as a key mediator of tumor immune evasion, contributing to systemic immunosuppression beyond the tumor microenvironment (TME) due...

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Main Authors: Laura Denisa Dragu, Mihaela Chivu-Economescu, Ioana Madalina Pitica, Lilia Matei, Coralia Bleotu, Carmen Cristina Diaconu, Laura Georgiana Necula
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/525
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author Laura Denisa Dragu
Mihaela Chivu-Economescu
Ioana Madalina Pitica
Lilia Matei
Coralia Bleotu
Carmen Cristina Diaconu
Laura Georgiana Necula
author_facet Laura Denisa Dragu
Mihaela Chivu-Economescu
Ioana Madalina Pitica
Lilia Matei
Coralia Bleotu
Carmen Cristina Diaconu
Laura Georgiana Necula
author_sort Laura Denisa Dragu
collection DOAJ
description This manuscript assesses the critical role of exosomal PD-L1 (ExoPD-L1) in immune suppression, tumor progression, and resistance to therapy. ExoPD-L1 has been identified as a key mediator of tumor immune evasion, contributing to systemic immunosuppression beyond the tumor microenvironment (TME) due to its capacity to travel to distant anatomical sites. In this context, the review aims to elaborate on the mechanisms by which exosomal PD-L1 interacts with T cell receptors and modulates both the tumor microenvironment and immune responses, impacting patient outcomes. We further explore emerging therapeutic strategies that target ExoPD-L1 to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Blocking ExoPD-L1 offers a novel approach to counteracting immune escape in cancer. Promising strategies include inhibiting exosome biogenesis with GW4869 or Rab inhibitors, neutralizing ExoPD-L1 with targeted antibodies, and silencing PD-L1 expression through RNA interference (RNAi) or CRISPR-based methods. While each approach presents certain limitations, their integration into combination therapies holds significant potential to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Future research should focus on optimizing these strategies for clinical application, with particular attention to improving delivery specificity and minimizing off-target effects.
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spelling doaj-art-eea83d933eea4821bed76c2075edd3b02025-08-20T02:45:34ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-07-0147752510.3390/cimb47070525Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer ImmunotherapyLaura Denisa Dragu0Mihaela Chivu-Economescu1Ioana Madalina Pitica2Lilia Matei3Coralia Bleotu4Carmen Cristina Diaconu5Laura Georgiana Necula6Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaStefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, RomaniaThis manuscript assesses the critical role of exosomal PD-L1 (ExoPD-L1) in immune suppression, tumor progression, and resistance to therapy. ExoPD-L1 has been identified as a key mediator of tumor immune evasion, contributing to systemic immunosuppression beyond the tumor microenvironment (TME) due to its capacity to travel to distant anatomical sites. In this context, the review aims to elaborate on the mechanisms by which exosomal PD-L1 interacts with T cell receptors and modulates both the tumor microenvironment and immune responses, impacting patient outcomes. We further explore emerging therapeutic strategies that target ExoPD-L1 to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Blocking ExoPD-L1 offers a novel approach to counteracting immune escape in cancer. Promising strategies include inhibiting exosome biogenesis with GW4869 or Rab inhibitors, neutralizing ExoPD-L1 with targeted antibodies, and silencing PD-L1 expression through RNA interference (RNAi) or CRISPR-based methods. While each approach presents certain limitations, their integration into combination therapies holds significant potential to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Future research should focus on optimizing these strategies for clinical application, with particular attention to improving delivery specificity and minimizing off-target effects.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/525ExoPD-L1exosomeimmune evasioncancer immunotherapytherapy resistance
spellingShingle Laura Denisa Dragu
Mihaela Chivu-Economescu
Ioana Madalina Pitica
Lilia Matei
Coralia Bleotu
Carmen Cristina Diaconu
Laura Georgiana Necula
Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
ExoPD-L1
exosome
immune evasion
cancer immunotherapy
therapy resistance
title Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
title_full Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
title_fullStr Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
title_short Targeting Exosomal PD-L1 as a New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy
title_sort targeting exosomal pd l1 as a new frontier in cancer immunotherapy
topic ExoPD-L1
exosome
immune evasion
cancer immunotherapy
therapy resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/525
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