Study on the Immunoregulatory Effects of Ovarian Cancer Cell-Derived Exosomes on Dendritic Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

WEI Yingying; HUANG Wei; MIN Xiaojia; ZHU Ke'an; SUN Shasha

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Journal of Hunan Normal University(Medical Science) ›› 2026, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (1) : 8-15.

Study on the Immunoregulatory Effects of Ovarian Cancer Cell-Derived Exosomes on Dendritic Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes

WEI Yingying¹, HUANG Wei¹, MIN Xiaojia¹, ZHU Ke'an¹, SUN Shasha²

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Abstract

Objective Exosomes are vital mediators of intercellular communication. Studies have shown that ovarian cancer cell-derived exosomes can alter the tumor microenvironment, yet their immunomodulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ovarian cancer cell-derived exosomes on dendritic cells (DCs) and DC-mediated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs) proliferation and function. Methods Exosomes were isolated from SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells by ultracentrifugation. Western blotting (WB) was used to detect exosomal markers, dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine particle size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe morphology. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), or exosomes to obtain immature, mature, and exosome-treated DCs. T cells were co-cultured with different DCs groups to assess proliferation, and activated T cells were incubated with ovarian cancer cells at varying ratios to evaluate cytotoxic activity. Results SKOV3-derived exosomes were successfully isolated and purified. TEM showed round or oval bilayer vesicles with diameters of 50-700 nm. WB confirmed the presence of characteristic exosomal surface markers and tumor-associated antigens. Exosomes significantly enhanced DCs activation and promoted naïve T-cell proliferation. CTLs induced by exosome-treated DCs exhibited markedly stronger cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells than controls. Conclusion Ovarian cancer cell-derived exosomes promote dendritic cell activation, enhance T-cell proliferation, and strengthen cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, suggesting an important role in regulating antitumor immune responses.

Key words

dendritic cells / exosomes / ovarian cancer / SKOV3 / cytotoxic tlymphocytes

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WEI Yingying, HUANG Wei, MIN Xiaojia, ZHU Ke'an, SUN Shasha. Study on the Immunoregulatory Effects of Ovarian Cancer Cell-Derived Exosomes on Dendritic Cells and Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes[J]. Journal of Hunan Normal University(Medical Science). 2026, 23(1): 8-15

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