Chair and Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Medicine

Chair and Department of Biochemistry

Faculty of Medicine

📢 New publication!

In a study published in Cell Communication and Signaling, we demonstrate that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma of patients with non-small cell lung cancer actively modulate the airway microenvironment.

Research conducted by the team led by Dr. habil. Małgorzata Czystowska-Kuźmicz demonstrated that communication mediated by small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) may promote immunosuppression and tumor progression. This represents an important step toward a better understanding of the lung cancer microenvironment and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

📄 Publication:Cell Communication and Signaling (2025)

Small vesicles, big impact – how intercellular communication promotes lung cancer

Our laboratory team, in collaboration with clinical partners, published a paper in Cell Communication and Signaling (BioMed Central) entitled

“Molecular cargo of small EVs from NSCLC patient BALF and plasma: unveiling their role in airway inflammation and immune regulation in a novel human 3D bronchial model.”

The study focused on the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs)—microscopic structures released by cells—in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although sEVs have long been known to participate in intercellular communication, their impact on the airway microenvironment in lung cancer patients had remained unclear.

As part of the project, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood plasma samples were collected from patients with NSCLC. The presence and molecular cargo of sEVs were then analyzed, and their biological effects were examined using a novel 3D human airway epithelial model.

What did we discover?

  • sEVs derived from plasma and BALF differed in number, size, and protein profile.

  • Vesicles with higher expression of immunomodulatory markers had a strong impact on immune cells, increasing the secretion of IL-10 and IL-6 cytokines and promoting the development of an immunosuppressive environment.

  • Macrophages exposed to these vesicles shifted toward an M2 phenotype, characteristic of cells that support tumor growth.

  • The study also demonstrated that sEVs can modulate EGFR receptor activity in macrophages, suggesting a potential new mechanism regulating their function within the tumor microenvironment.

Why is this important?

This study provides the first experimental evidence that sEVs from NSCLC patients actively shape inflammatory and immune responses in the airways, creating conditions favorable for tumor development. These findings may in the future contribute to:

  • the identification of new diagnostic biomarkers,

  • the development of therapeutic strategies targeting not only cancer cells but also immune cells within their microenvironment.

The study was funded by the National Science Centre (OPUS 14 2017/27/B/NZ6/01990), the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (BPI/PST/2021/1/00071/U/00001), and the Medical University of Warsaw under the Young Researcher Grant (1WK/2/M/MB/N/22/23).