Exosomal Heat Shock Proteins as New Players in Tumour Cell-to-Cell Communication

Claudia Campanella; Celeste Caruso Bavisotto; Antonella Marino Gammazza; Dragana Nikolic; Francesca Rappa; Sabrina David; Francesco Cappello; Fabio Bucchieri; Stefano Fais

doi:10.33393/jcb.2014.2046

Authors

Claudia Campanella Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Celeste Caruso Bavisotto Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Antonella Marino Gammazza Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Dragana Nikolic Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy “Emerico Luna”, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Francesca Rappa Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Sabrina David Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Francesco Cappello Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Fabio Bucchieri Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
Stefano Fais Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33393/jcb.2014.2046

Keywords:

Extracellular Vesicles, Heat Shock Proteins, Cell Communication

Abstract

Exosomes have recently been proposed as novel elements in the study of intercellular communication in normal and pathological conditions. The biomolecular composition of exosomes reflects the specialized functions of the original cells. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a group of chaperone proteins with diverse biological roles. In recent years, many studies have focused on the extracellular roles played by Hsps that appear to be involved in cancer development and immune system stimulation. Hsps localized on the surface of exosomes, secreted by normal and tumour cells, could be key players in intercellular cross-talk, particularly during the course of different diseases, such as cancer. Exosomal Hsps offer significant opportunities for clinical applications, including their use as potential novel biomarkers for the diagnoses or prognoses of different diseases, or for therapeutic applications and drug delivery.