Extracellular vesicles derived from irradiated tumor cells foster immunosuppressive macrophages formation to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma immune evasion.

ABSTRACT: Background: Radiotherapy (RT) remodels the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key mediators of TME, yet how RT reprograms TAMs toward a programmed death ligand- 1(PD-L1)⁺ immunosuppressive phenotype remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) subcutaneous xenografts in immunodeficient mice received localized RT or sham treatment. Tumor-infiltrating PD-L1⁺ TAMs were quantified via multiplex immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from irradiated ESCC cells (IR-EVs) were isolated and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Functional assays included co-culture of IR-EVs-educated macrophages with autologous CD8⁺ T cells. RNA s

SUBMITTER: Jiang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12781079 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature