Thyrocyte-derived exosome-targeted dendritic cells stimulate strong CD4+ T lymphocyte responses
Xuejiao Cui, Shuo Wang, Na Zhao, Shiwei Wang, Zhenzhen Wang, Mingshi Huang, Yongping Liu, Jing Qin, Zhongyan Shan, Weiping Teng, Yushu Li
Abstract
Exosomes have been intensively studied in autoimmune diseases, and circulating exosomes and microvesicles have also been explored in autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD). However, the role of thyroid cell-derived exosomes in immune responses is unclear. We showed that IFN-γ-treated Nthy-ori 3-1 cell-derived exosomes (IFN-γ-Exo) harbored TPO, HSP60 and MHC-II and activated dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. Compared with Exo-targeted DCs (DCExo), IFN-γ-Exo-targeted DCs (DCIFN-γ-Exo) promoted the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-22, from CD4+ T lymphocytes and inhibited the expression and release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1; however, IFN-γ-Exo did not have this effect compared with Nthy-ori 3-1 cell-derived exosomes (Exo). DCIFN-γ-Exo stimulates the expression and release of cytokines from CD4+ T lymphocytes more efficiently than IFN-γ-Exo. Thus, DCIFN-γ-Exo may effectively induce CD4+ T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses and play a role in the occurrence and development of AITD.