Studying the effect of exosomes derived from the human melanoma cancer cell line on the proliferative and differentiation properties of the human T lymphocyte cell model

Abstract

Melanoma is a malignant and highly lethal tumor. It has been shown that melanoma cells secrete exosomes and these exosomes affect the environment and immune cells surrounding the tumor and reduce the tumor's response to immune cells. In the present study, the aim is to introduce a new paradigm in the treatment of this cancer by investigating the effects of cancer-derived exosomes on T lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: In this study, SK-MEL-3 and HFFF2 cell lines (as control) are cultured. Then, exosomes are extracted from each of them, and after confirming the extraction, the effect of these exosomes on proliferation, activation markers, and differentiation into different subtypes of human T lymphocytes is investigated. Results: Exosomes derived from the human malignant melanoma cell line were able to significantly affect the differentiation of Jurkat T cells and drive them towards regulation so that cancer cells can escape the immune system. In this study, a significant increase in the expression of Th2 and Treg cell markers and a significant decrease in the expression of Th1 and Th17 cell markers were observed. In addition, these cancer-derived exosomes were able to reduce the proliferation of T lymphocytes and drive them toward further apoptosis.