Group of Dr. Irina Nazarenko

Exosomes, stem cells and tumour progression

Communication between distant cells is essential for maintenance of the homeostasis of the organism. Tumor cells use natural ways of intercellular communication and influence thereby many systemic processes of the body. Inflammation, immunotolerance, and intravascular coagulation are some examples of this action. Furthermore, intercellular communication plays an important role for tumor cells dissemination and metastasis.

We examine a special type of intercellular communication by mean of extracellular vesicles referred as microvesicles. They function as a kind of “Message in the bottle”: released by the cells they are distributed by the circulation and transfer different signaling molecules, proteins and nucleic acids, to distant organs. Meantime it has been recognized that tumor cells produces increased amounts of microvesicles, which induces angiogenesis, and contribute to immunosuppression and metastasis. The aim of our research is to understand the mechanisms of microvesicles action and based on that to develop new strategies for tumor diagnosis and therapy.

One of project is focused on the role of exosomes and other types of extracellular vesicle in the regulation of stem and progenitor cells under physiological (during emryogenesis) and pathological (in different stages of tumour progression) conditions.

Fundamental mechanisms of the exosomes function, such as regulation of sorting of certain proteins, mRNA, miRNA, and DNA into the exosomes, release, distribution and destinations of exosomes in the body, interaction with target cells, and finally local and systemic effects of exosomes belong to the questions we are addressing in the cooperation with many interdisciplinary teams. Part of our projects are integrated in BiF (Biointerfaces Program) and KNMF (Karlsruhe Nano Micro Faculty) of KIT.

Press and Prices

Curt Meyer-Gedächtnispreis 2008 von Berliner Krebsgesellschaft
für Dr. rer.nat Irina Nazarenko
Titel of the Work: "Mechanisms of the HRSL3 tumor suppressor function in ovarian carcinoma cells"

Science Editor`s Choice 10-Apr-2007 Apoptosis The Mechanism of Action of the Tumor Suppressor HRSL3 

Public release 5-Oct-2006 A  tumor suppressor that promotes cancer cell growth? EurekAlert

Our research is supported by: