Topic: Role and Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Immune Regulation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as significant contributors to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Evaluating EV functions and regulatory mechanisms of EV secretion from diseased and normal cells (e.g., cancer and immune cells, respectively) is crucial for understanding disease pathogenesis. Based on the results obtained, strategies for disease treatment may be formulated, including target therapy. Recently, anti-cancer strategies, particularly immunotherapy, have emerged as a focus in addressing cancer. Therefore, studies focusing on cancer or immune cell-derived EVs within the tumor microenvironment are under the spotlight. These investigations aim to elucidate the complex effects of cancer cell-derived EVs on important processes such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune evasion. Additionally, studies on the effects of immune cell-derived EVs on other immune and cancer cells are in progress. In fact, advancements in cancer treatment strategies have involved the engineering of EVs derived from normal or immune cells to augment their inherent anti-cancer properties.

This Special Issue will highlight the function of EVs in the pathogenesis and development of diseases, with a particular focus on cancer and their applications in therapy. We welcome submissions of original research articles/reviews/new opinions on the following topics:
● Functional role of EVs in cancer or immune cells;
● Mechanism of EV secretion from various cells;
● Mechanism of immune evasion by EVs;
● Strategies to inhibit biogenesis/secretion of EVs from cancer cells;
● EV engineering to treat various diseases.

The cover image is reproduced from Sańchez-Madrid, F et al., 2022.

30 Nov 2023