Fataneh Tavasolian, Ahmad Z. Hosseini*, Mohsen Rashidi, Sara Soudi, Elham Abdollahi, Amir A. Momtazi-Borojeni, Thozhukat Sathyapalan and Amirhossein Sahebkar* Pages 197 - 205 ( 9 )
Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that pass genetic material between various cells to modulate or alter their biological function. The role of exosomes is to communicate with the target cell for cell-to-cell communication. Their inherent characteristics of exosomes, such as adhesion molecules, allow targeting specifically to the receiving cell. Exosomes are involved in cell to cell communication in the immune system including antigen presentation, natural killer cells (NK cells) and T cell activation/polarisation, immune suppression and various anti-inflammatory processes. In this review, we have described various functions of exosomes secreted by the immune cells in initiating, activating and modulating immune responses; and highlight the distinct roles of exosomal surface proteins and exosomal cargo. Potential applications of exosomes such as distribution vehicles for immunotherapy are also discussed.
Exosome, microRNA, immune system, inflammation, immune response, immunotherapy.
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Department of Medical Immunology and Allergy, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Nanotechnology Research Center, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Department of Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU3 2JZ, Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad