title: Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in T-cell immunity and cancer immunotherapy.
abstract: Wnt ligands are lipid-modified secreted glycoproteins that regulate embryonic development, cell fate specification, and the homeostasis of self-renewing adult tissues. In addition to its well-established role in thymocyte development, recent studies have indicated that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for the differentiation, polarization, and survival of mature T lymphocytes. Here, we describe our current understanding of Wnt signaling in the biology of post-thymic T cells, and discuss how harnessing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway might improve the efficacy of vaccines, T-cell-based therapies, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gattinoni
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Restifo
mesh_terms: D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin