Circulating exosomes from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma mediate the generation of B10 and PD-1high Breg cells

As one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains the leading cause of malignancy-related death worldwide. Many studies have focused on the potential role of cancer cells in educating B cells during cancer progression. Here, we aim to explore the role of circulating exosomes from ESCC in the generation of two main regulatory B (Breg) subsets, including interleukin-10(+) Bregs (B10) and programmed cell death (PD)-1(high) Bregs. Firstly, we observed an elevated percentage of B10 cells in peripheral blood of ESCC patients compared with healthy controls. Then we isolated and characterized exosomes from the peripheral blood of ESCC patients and an ESCC cell line. Exosomes from ESCC patients and the ESCC cell line suppressed the proliferation of B cells and induced the augmentation of B10 and PD-1(high) Breg cells. By comparing the long non-coding RNA and mRNA expression profiles in exosomes from ESCC patients or healthy controls, we identified a series of differentially expressed genes. Finally, we undertook gene annotation and pathway enrichment analyses on differentially expressed genes to explore the potential mechanism underlying the modulatory role of cancer exosomes in B cells. Our findings contribute to the study on B cell-mediated ESCC immunosuppression and shed light on the possible application of exosomes in anticancer therapies.