Dendritic Cell-Derived Exosomes: Immunological Perspectives and Strategies for Enhanced Precision Drug Delivery

Dendritic-cell-derived exosomes (DC-Exos) are nano-sized lipid vesicles bearing the antigen-presenting machinery of their parent cells. They display MHC-I/II, co-stimulatory molecules (e.g., CD۸۰/CD۸۶), adhesion molecules (ICAM-۱), and cytokines, enabling them to present antigens and activate T cells and NK cells much like intact dendritic cells. These features, combined with intrinsic biocompatibility and the ability to cross biological barriers, make DC-Exos attractive as “off-the-shelf” drug carriers for precision immunotherapy. Recent studies have shown that DC-Exos can be loaded with tumor antigens or drugs (siRNAs, chemotherapeutics, cytokines, etc.) and engineered with targeting ligands (peptides, antibodies, or pH-sensitive moieties) to direct them to specific cells or tissues. In preclinical models, antigen-loaded DC-Exos elicit potent antigen-specific immune responses, and drug-loaded DC-Exos enhance treatment efficacy while reducing toxicity. Here, we review the latest cellular and molecular insights into DC-Exo biology (composition, antigen presentation, immunomodulation) and survey engineering strategies (cargo loading, surface modifications) that enable precision drug delivery. These advances position DC-derived exosomes as strong candidates for next-generation cell-free vaccines and precision nanocarriers in both veterinary and human medicine. Nevertheless, overcoming the persistent barriers in large-scale biomanufacturing and achieving reliable in vivo targeting remains essential—critical steps that will ultimately determine whether these promising platforms can translate into clinically effective, widely deployable immunotherapeutic tools.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dendritic cells ، Exosomes ، Precision drug delivery ، Immunotherapy ، Antigen presentation ، Nanocarriers