Korean J Intern Med.  2022 Jan;37(1):85-95. 10.3904/kjim.2020.510.

Extracellular vesicles derived from small intestinal lamina propria reduce antigen-specific immune response

• Shin TS
• Park JY
• Kim YK
• Kim JG

• KMID: 2524244
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2020.510

Abstract

Background/Aims
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted from various types of cells and have specific functions related to their origin. EVs are observed in the small intestinal lamina propria (lpEVs), but their function remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of lpEVs.
Methods
LpEVs were isolated from antigen (ovalbumin [OVA])-fed mice (lpEVs/OVA), and administrated to the naïve mice for 5 days before induction of lung inflammation. Afterwards, the mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA to evaluate the role of lpEVs/OVA in the regulation of immune tolerance.
Results
The isolated lpEVs/OVA were sphere-shaped, bi-layered vesicles of approximately 50 to 100 nm in size. The vesicles expressed CD81, A33 antigen, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II on the surface. When administrated to naïve mice, the lpEVs/OVA migrated to the spleen. Intraperitoneal lpEVs/OVA administration to naïve mice decreased the immune response against sensitized antigen in a CD4⁺FoxP3⁺T cell-dependent manner.
Conclusions
EVs are actively secreted from small intestinal epithelial cells to deliver information about orally administered antigens to immune cells, which will facilitate the modulation of the immune response by acting as an intercellular communicasome.

Keyword

Exosomes; Extracellular vesicle; Immune response; Small intestine