A Novel Strategy for the Invasive Toxin: Hijacking Exosome-Mediated Intercellular Trafficking

Toxins penetrate mammalian cells through various means. In this study, we report a unique strategy used by trichosanthin (TCS), a plant toxin with ribosome-inactivating activity, to penetrate host cells. We found that in both JAR and K562 cells, endocytosed TCS is incorporated into intraluminal vesicles of the multivesicular body (MVB) and is then secreted in association with these vesicles upon fusion of the MVB with the plasma membrane. The secreted TCS-loaded vesicles secreted by K562 cells move throughout the intercellular space and target syngeneic and specific allogeneic cells. Subsequent internalization permits delivery of the toxin into the cytosol, resulting in ribosomal inactivation and cell death. Thus, our findings provide a novel mechanism by which foreign proteins pass between and penetrate into mammalian cells.