Tumor-Related Exosomes Contribute to Tumor-Promoting Microenvironment: An Immunological Perspective

Figure 1

Tumor-released exosomes could mediate immune suppression. (a) TEXs could induce peripheral monocyte differentiating into MDSCs instead of DCs and inhibit DCs’ bioactivity. (b) TEXs stimulate NF-κB signals in macrophages and induce them into the M2 cytokine profile. (c) TEXs downregulate NKG2D and inhibit the cytolytic activity in NK cells. (d) TEXs inactivate effector T cells by interfering with TCR- and IL-2R-mediated signaling and induce effector T cell apoptosis via Fas/FasL interaction. (e) TEXs contribute to regulatory T cells proliferation via TGF-β and IL-10 and transform normal B cells into regulatory B cells.