Regulatory T cells, tumour immunity and immunotherapy.
Tumours express a range of antigens, including self-antigens. Regulatory T cells are crucial for maintaining T-cell tolerance to self-antigens. Regulatory T cells are thought to dampen T-cell immunity to tumour-associated antigens and to be the main obstacle tempering successful immunotherapy and active vaccination. In this Review, I consider the nature and characteristics of regulatory T cells in the tumour microenvironment and their potential multiple suppressive mechanisms. Strategies for therapeutic targeting of regulatory T cells and the effect of regulatory T cells on current immunotherapeutic and vaccine regimens are discussed.
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0346, USA. wzou@umich.edu
Weiping
W
Zou
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm