Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers, therapeutic targets and therapeutic vehicles for precision medicine

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are natural 30-100 nm nanovesicles released by all cells, and can stimulate or inhibit activation of immune cells depending on their cellular origin. Cancer cell EVs promote cancer, and in patients with lung diseases, we have found EVs which are pro-inflammatory. EVs can therefore function as biomarkers, a “liquid biopsy”.

Dendritic cell (DC) EVs can induce immune responses and are tested in cancer therapy to boost immune responses, but this needs optimization.The high heterogeneity of EVs, and low sensitivity of assays have been an obstacle in the field, but now we have assays that can detect multiple molecules on single EVs.

With these, we want both to find biomarkers for disease and to elucidate the mechanisms behind how EVs induce immune responses in animal models and patients with sarcoidosis, COPD and bladder cancer.

The role of different molecular combinations, including check-point molecules (PD-1,-L1) on EVs are studied to understand immune responses to EVs.

In a COPD model, we will test effects of EVs from animals at different stages of disease to understand their role in progression of disease.

We will also optimize EVs for therapeutic purposes, by developing new techniques for antigen loading and specific cell targeting, to induce broad immunity.The project will lead to better understanding of EV-induced immune responses, and we might find novel biomarkers, as well as targets or tools for the treatment of lung diseases and cancer.