journal article·2026-05-15Open access

BCMA‐Engineered Dendritic Cell‐Derived Exosomes as Bi‐Functional Therapeutics Orchestrating Cytokine Sequestration and Immune Activation for Multiple Myeloma

Yuqing Zeng, Chao He, Zhibin He, Hongbo Chen, Fang Cheng, Yongjiang Zheng

Abstract

ABSTRACT The immunosuppressive bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cytokine dysregulation remain major barriers to curing multiple myeloma (MM). Despite the promise of B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA)‐targeted therapies, their clinical utility is often limited by antigen escape and insufficient immune activation. Here, we developed DB Exo, a cell‐free therapeutic platform utilizing allogeneic dendritic cell‐derived exosomes engineered to surface display BCMA. Mechanistically, DB Exo act as molecular decoys that predominantly sequester soluble APRIL with partial BAFF attenuation, thereby effectively disrupting NF‐κB pro‐survival signaling in MM cells. Concurrently, DB Exo retain inherited costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, and MHC‐II) to trigger strong host immune activation, expanding CD8 + T cells and enhancing the secretion of cytotoxic effector molecules. In an orthotopic murine model, DB Exo suppress tumor burden by ∼72% and remodel the BMM by increasing cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte infiltration and elevating serum IFN‐γ and Granzyme B levels. The robust antitumor efficacy was further validated in a subcutaneous model, with DB Exo achieving a ∼75% reduction in tumor weight. Our findings establish DB Exo as a potent bi‐functional exosome platform that integrates targeted cytokine blockade with in situ immune activation, offering a promising cell‐free strategy for MM treatment.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Extracellular vesicles in disease · CAR-T cell therapy research · Immunotherapy and Immune Responses

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen) Sun Yat‐sen University Shenzhen China

Department of Endocrinology Southwest Hospital Army Medical University (The Third Military Medical University) Chongqing China

Department of Hematology Institute of Hematology The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou China

Department of Hematology Zhaoqing Hospital The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Zhaoqing China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province · Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program · National Key Research and Development Program of China

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