Hybrid Cellular Nanovesicles Block PD-L1 Signal and Repolarize M2 Macrophages for Cancer Immunotherapy

Small. 2024 Aug;20(31):e2311702. doi: 10.1002/smll.202311702. Epub 2024 Mar 8.

Abstract

The PD1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blocking is a promising therapy, while immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and poor tumor penetration of therapeutic antibodies limit its efficacy. Repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) offers a potential method to ameliorate immunosuppression of TME and further boost T cell antitumor immunity. Herein, hybrid cell membrane biomimetic nanovesicles (hNVs) are developed by fusing M1 macrophage-derived nanovesicles (M1-NVs) and PD1-overexpressed tumor cell-derived nanovesicles (PD1-NVs) to improve cancer immunotherapy. The M1-NVs promote the transformation of M2-like TAMs to M1-like phenotype and further increase the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in improved immunosuppressive TME. Concurrently, the PD1-NVs block PD1/PD-L1 pathway, which boosts cancer immunotherapy when combined with M1-NVs. In a breast cancer mouse model, the hNVs efficiently accumulate at the tumor site after intravenous injection and significantly inhibit the tumor growth. Mechanically, the M1 macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes in TME increase by twofold after the treatment, indicating effective immune activation. These results suggest the hNVs as a promising strategy to integrate TME improvement with PD1/PD-L1 blockade for cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: biomimetic nanoparticles; cancer immunotherapy; cell membrane vesicles; immune checkpoint blockade; macrophage polarization.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7-H1 Antigen* / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Microenvironment*

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor