Chronic myeloid leukemia-derived extracellular vesicles increase Foxp3 level and suppressive activity of thymic

Julian Swatler1, Wioleta Dudka1, Lukasz Bugajski1

  • 1Laboratory of Cytometry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Mechanisms driving immunosuppression in chronic myeloid leukemia are mostly unknown. We show that leukemic extracellular vesicles (EVs) target lymphocytes and amplify suppressive function of thymic regulatory T cells, by driving expression of Foxp3 transcription factor. This could facilitate expansion of leukemic cells outside the bone marrow, leading to blast crisis.