Ion channels and anti-cancer immunity.
The outcome of a malignant disease depends on the efficacy of the immune system to destroy cancer cells. Key steps in this process, for example the generation of a proper Ca(2+) signal induced by recognition of a specific antigen, are regulated by various ion channel including voltage-gated Kv1.3 and Ca(2+)-activated KCa3.1 K(+) channels, and the interplay between Orai and STIM to produce the Ca(2+)-release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) current required for T-cell proliferation and function. Understanding the immune cell subset-specific expression of ion channels along with their particular function in a given cell type, and the role of cancer tissue-dependent factors in the regulation of operation of these ion channels are emerging questions to be addressed in the fight against cancer disease. Answering these questions might lead to a better understanding of the immunosuppression phenomenon in cancer tissue and the development of drugs aimed at skewing the distribution of immune cell types towards killing of the tumour cells.
Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, University of Debrecen, , Egyetem ter 1, Life Science Building, Room 2.301, Debrecen, Hungary.
Gyorgy
G
Panyi
Christine
C
Beeton
Antonio
A
Felipe
D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D007473:Ion Channels
Ca2+-release-activated Ca2+; KCa3.1; Kv1.3; immunosuppressive network; ion channel; tumour