Exosomes are small-membrane vesicles secreted by hematopoietic and malignant epithelial cells as well as trophoblasts. The composition of cancerous exosomes has been proven to play pivotal roles in the maintenance of the microenvironment that is beneficial for the progression of
cancer, such as
Fas-ligand-triggered lymphocyte apoptosis. We supposed that the immunosuppressive effect of cancerous exosomes might be helpful in the treatment of diseases characterized by overactivation of the immune system and subsequent tissue injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of
tumor-derived exosomes in the mice model of
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced
inflammation. Tetrazolium (MTT) and
DNA electrophoresis were used to measure the cytotoxicity of exosomes on lymphocytes. Pathologic observation of tissue sections, serologic analysis of
aspartate aminotransferase/
alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), and urinary analysis of
protein were used to assess the protection effect of exosomes in LPS-induced multiorgan damage. In vitro outcomes of MTT and
DNA electrophoresis showed the cytotoxicity of exosomes on lymphocytes. Together with the alleviation of organ damages evaluated by urine
protein, serum AST/ALT, and pathologic analysis, we confirmed the possibility that pretreatment of mice with exosomes, produced by H22 hepatic
tumor cells, resulted in protection against LPS-induced tissue damage, which is caused by overactivation of the immune system and
inflammation response. This therapeutic strategy will raise an interesting way to search new
therapeutics in pairs of diseases with complementarities in etiology and pathology, namely, a strategy of taking advantage of the mutual complementarities between diseases.