Anti cancer effect of garlic exosomes on different cancertypes

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that are recognized as the messengers of cell-to-cell signalling. These vesicles, ranging in size from 30-100 nm, are responsible for transporting molecules -such as protein, RNA, DNA, mRNA, and miRNA- from a given cell to another. Studies show that cells have a special mechanisms for releasing exosomes. Cells have the potential to engulf all exosomes, regardless of which cell they are secreted from. That said, current study aims to understand the effect of plant-derived exosomes on mammalian cells. Various malignant cell lines MDA-MB231 (metastatic breast cancer), DMS114 (small-cell lung cancer), and HCT 116 (colon cancer cells) were treated with plant derived exosomes isolated from garlic. Effects of garlic exosomes was examined in terms of inducing apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell viability. At the same time, potential cytotoxic effects of these agents on normal cells were analysed by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Exosomes obtained from garlic were visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and characterized based on the surface markers CD69, HSP70, CD9, and CD81 by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity assays were performed and the most appropriate doses were selected for treatment. In order to detect apootpsis, the annexin V and TUNEL assays were performed. VEGF and caspase 3 protein expression were analyzed by ELISA. p53, caspase3, caspase 9, Bcl-2 and Bax in gene expression levels were determined with RTPCR. Finally, effect of garlic exosomes on cell cycle was analysed by the Edu assay.