EVs as therapeutic tools for diagnosis and treatment
EVs as therapeutic tools for diagnosis and treatment
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles secreted by all cells. Being easily accessible in plasma, EVs offers a new type of liquid-biopsy and are powerful biomarkers that can inform on tumor burden and progression. Functionally, EVs were shown to influence the tumor microenvironment as vehicles for cell–cell communication
EVs as tool for diagnosis
We recently develop a methodology allowing the detection of specific proteins the surface of EV present in the circulation. This approach offers a new way to monitor the changes of the proteins and RNA encapsulated in exosomes during tumor progression, treatment…The main advantage compared to classical biopsies is to reduced invasiveness allowing a more efficient follow-up.
Therapeutic delivery via EVs
EVs as drug delivery vehicles is a field of extensive research and development. Because they are naturally occurring, exosomes are less toxic and immunogenic than synthetic lipid nanoparticles. They offer many advantages as drug delivery vehicles: due to their small size, low immunogenicity, long half-life in the circulation, ability to load various cargos and to cross impermeable biological barriers such as the blood brain barrier. As delivery vehicle for siRNA/miRNA they protect them from degradation by blood-derived ribonucleases.
In the Lab, we explore the feasibility to use EV as a cargos for non coding RNA to treat disease. Our main projects focus on pulmonary diseases (fibrosis) and cancers (Breast, pancreas and lung).
Improving targeting
To perform its function, EVs must first bind to its recipient (or target) cell. It is known that not all EVs target the same cells but preferentially binding to some specific type of cell. This targeting ability which is inherent in EVs is a feature that could be used to specifically transport some drugs to desired cells. In the Lab we are exploring new ways to modify the targeting of EVs.
People involved : Maureen Cambier, Claire Remacle, Emeline Coart, Aurélie Christian
Selected publications:
Guiot, J., Cambier, M., Boeckx, A., Henket, M., Nivelles, O., Gester, F., Louis, E., Malaise, M., Dequiedt, F., Louis, R., Struman*, I., and Njock*, M.S. (2020). Macrophage-derived exosomes attenuate fibrosis in airway epithelial cells through delivery of antifibrotic miR-142-3p. Thorax 75, 870–881.
Guiot, J., Struman, I., Louis, E., Louis, R., Malaise, M., and Njock, M.-S. (2019). Exosomal miRNAs in Lung Diseases: From Biologic Function to Therapeutic Targets. J. Clin. Med. 8, 1345.
Frères, P., Josse, C., Bovy, N., Boukerroucha, M., Struman, I., Bours, V., and Jerusalem, G. (2014). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients induces miR-34a and miR-122 expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 230, 473–481.
