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Natural Killer Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reprogram Human Immunity to Enhance Tumour Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT: Despite evidence of natural killer cell–derived extracellular vesicles (NK-EVs) possessing intrinsic cytotoxicity, their broader immunomodulatory effects on human immune subsets remain poorly defined, representing a key knowledge gap that must be addressed to advance their clinical translation as cancer immunotherapeutics. In this study, the immunomodulatory effects of NK-EVs were evaluated on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), a mixed population of circulating immune cells, from healthy donors and patients with aggressive breast cancer. NK-EVs were produced through a clinically scalable production process and PBMCs exposed to NK-EVs were assessed using high-resolution single-cell transcriptomics and functional cytotoxicity assays. NK-EVs reprogrammed PBMC on a transcriptomic (gene regulation) and cellular level, resulting in functional improvement of the PBMCs' tumour cell killing capabilities. These effects were mediated through distinct PBMC subsets, including cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and myeloid cells. Interestingly, CD8+ T cells, CD56+ NK cells, and CD33+ myeloid cells appear to play a more prominent role in NK-EV-mediated immune reprogramming than CD4+ T cells, with genes involved in their activation being markedly affected upon EV stimulation. Notably, the responses were consistent across all biological PBMC donors (n=6), regardless of disease status. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that NK-EVs orchestrate coordinated immune activation, highlighting their promise as an immunotherapeutic for cancer and other immune-mediated diseases.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE309543 | GEO | 2026/07/08

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Natural Killer cells (NK), a major constituent of innate immune system, have the ability to kill the transformed and infected cells without prior sensitization; can be put to immunotherapeutic use against various malignancies. NK cells discriminate between normal cells and transformed cells via a balance of inhibitory and activating signals induced by interactions between NK cell receptors and target cell ligands. Present study investigates whether expansion of NK cells could augment their anti-myeloma (MM) activity. For NK cell expansion, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors and myeloma patients were co-cultured with irradiated K562 cells transfected with 4-1BBL and membrane-bound IL15 (K562-mb15-41BBL). A genome-wide profiling approach was performed to identify gene expression signature in expanded NK (ENK) cells and non-expanded NK cells isolated from healthy donors and myeloma patients. A specific set of genes involved in proliferation, migration, adhesion, cytotoxicity, and activation were up regulated post expansion, also confirmed by flow cytometry. Exp-NK cells killed both allogeneic and autologous primary MM cells more avidly than non-exp-NK cells in vitro. Multiple receptors, particularly NKG2D, natural cytotoxicity receptors, and DNAM-1 contributed to target lysis, via a perforin mediated mechanism. In summary, vigorous expansion and high anti-MM activity both in vitro and in vivo provide the rationale for testing exp-NK cells in a clinical trial for high risk MM. Differential gene expression profile in expanded natural killer (ENK) cells and non-expanded natural killer (NK) cells from healthy donors and myeloma patients Eight healthy donor and eight myeloma patients were used in the study. Non-expanded natural killer (NK) cells were isolated from PBMCs of healthy donors and myeloma patients. Expanded natural killer (ENK) cells were generated from same set of samples as mentioned in expansion protocol. All ENK and NK cells were used for gene expression profiling.

Project description:Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are associated with aberrant gene expression and epigenetic mechanisms. In particular, de novo DNA methylation is typically linked to gene silencing, but its role in heart disease remains not fully understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are active components in cellular communication for their ability to carry a plethora of signalling biomolecules, thus representing a promising new diagnostic/therapeutic approach in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Indeed, there is the need of novel biomarkers for ACS prediction and timely detection. Purpose: We hypothesized that specific epigenetic signals can be carried by EVs. In this regard, we isolated and characterized circulating EVs from ACS patients and evaluated their potential role to influence DNA methylation in target cells. Methods: Circulating EVs were recovered, by ultracentrifugation, from plasma samples of 19 ACS patients and 50 healthy subjects (HS). Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and western blot (WB) were used to confirm the EVs integrity and purity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of volunteer donors were treated with both ACS and HS derived EVs and genomic DNA was extracted to perform epigenome wide analysis through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. ShinyGO, PANTHER, and STRING tools were interrogated to perform GO and PPI network analyses. Flow Cytometry, qRT-PCR, and WB analysis were also performed to evaluate and validate both intra-vesicular and intra-cellular signals. Results: Plasma ACS-derived EVs showed a significant up-regulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) gene expression levels as compared to HS (P<0.001). Specifically, de novo methylation transcripts, as DNMT3A and DNMT3B were significantly increased in plasma ACS-EVs. DNA methylation analysis of PBMCs from volunteer donors treated with HS- and ACS-derived EVs showed that RNF166 and CCND3 genes resulted the most hyper- and hypo-methylated, respectively, after by ACS-EV treatment. In addition, PPI network analysis specifically evidenced the subnetwork with SRC, as a hub gene, connecting it to NOTCH1, FOXO3, CDC42, IKBKG, RXRA, DGKG, known as important genes already involved in the onset of CVDs. Surprising, other novel genes, BAIAP2, SYP, CHL1, and SHB, which were hypomethylated, were found significantly overexpressed in PBMCs (P<0.005), underlying the fundamental modulating properties of EV cargo in atherosclerosis. Conclusions: These findings support the significant role of ACS plasma-derived EVs, inducing de novo DNA methylation signals, and modulating specific signaling pathways in target cells.

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Natural Killer Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reprogram Human Immunity to Enhance Tumour Cytotoxicity

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