Advances in targeting cell surface signalling molecules for immune modulation.
The past decade has witnessed a surge in the development of immunomodulatory approaches to combat a broad range of human diseases, including cancer, viral infections, autoimmunity and inflammation as well as in the prevention of transplant rejection. Immunomodulatory approaches mostly involve the use of monoclonal antibodies or recombinant fusion proteins that target cell surface signalling molecules on immune cells to drive immune responses towards the desired direction. Advances in our understanding of the human immune system, along with valuable lessons learned from the first generation of therapeutic biologics, are aiding the design of the next generation of immunomodulatory biologics with better therapeutic efficacy, minimized adverse effects and long-lasting clinical benefit. The recent encouraging results from antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) and B7 homolog 1 (B7H1; also known as PDL1) for the treatment of various advanced human cancers show that immunomodulatory therapy has come of age.
Department of Immunobiology and Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA.
Sheng
S
Yao
Yuwen
Y
Zhu
Lieping
L
Chen
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins