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Exosomal PD-L1 (exoPD-L1) has recently received significant attention as a biomarker predicting immunotherapeutic responses involving the PD1/PD-L1 pathway. However, current technologies for exosomal analysis rely primarily on bulk measurements that do not consider the heterogeneity found within exosomal subpopulations.

A new study presents a nanoscale cytometry platform called NanoEPIC, enabling phenotypic sorting and exoPD-L1 profiling from blood plasma. The researchers highlight the efficacy of NanoEPIC in monitoring anti-PD-1 immunotherapy through the interrogation of exoPD-L1.

NanoEPIC generates signature exoPD-L1 patterns in responders and non-responders to immunotherapy. In mice treated with PD1-targeted immunotherapy, exoPD-L1 is correlated with tumor growth, PD-L1 burden in tumors, and the immune suppression of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) with different PD-L1 expression levels display distinctive inhibitory effects on CD8+ T cells. This demonstrates the importance of analyzing exosomal subpopulations rather than relying on bulk measurements.

NanoEPIC offers robust, high-throughput profiling of exosomal markers, enabling sEV subpopulation analysis. This platform holds great potential for enhanced cancer screening, personalized treatment, and therapeutic response monitoring through exoPD-L1 profiling.

The ability to sort and analyze distinct exosomal subpopulations provides valuable insights into the heterogeneous nature of extracellular vesicles. As immunotherapies continue to expand, NanoEPIC may prove essential for precision medicine approaches that consider the nuances of exosomal signaling.

Chen, K., Duong, B.T.V., Ahmed, S.U. et al. A magneto-activated nanoscale cytometry platform for molecular profiling of small extracellular vesicles. Nat Commun14, 5576 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41285-8

ichorbio's anti-PD-1 ultra-low endotoxin antibody ICH1132UL was used in this citation.