Pre-metastatic cancer exosomes induce immune surveillance by patrolling monocytes at the metastatic niche

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 6;8(1):1319. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01433-3.

Abstract

Metastatic cancers produce exosomes that condition pre-metastatic niches in remote microenvironments to favor metastasis. In contrast, here we show that exosomes from poorly metastatic melanoma cells can potently inhibit metastasis to the lung. These "non-metastatic" exosomes stimulate an innate immune response through the expansion of Ly6Clow patrolling monocytes (PMo) in the bone marrow, which then cause cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche, via the recruitment of NK cells and TRAIL-dependent killing of melanoma cells by macrophages. These events require the induction of the Nr4a1 transcription factor and are dependent on pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) on the outer surface of exosomes. Importantly, exosomes isolated from patients with non-metastatic primary melanomas have a similar ability to suppress lung metastasis. This study thus demonstrates that pre-metastatic tumors produce exosomes, which elicit a broad range of PMo-reliant innate immune responses via trigger(s) of immune surveillance, causing cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Exosomes / immunology*
  • Eye Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunologic Surveillance
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / secondary*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Monocytes / pathology
  • Nerve Growth Factors / immunology
  • Phagocytosis / immunology
  • Serpins / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Eye Proteins
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Serpins
  • pigment epithelium-derived factor