Antitumor immune responses mediated by dendritic cells: How signals derived from dying cancer cells drive antigen cross-presentation.
Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the induction of adaptive immune responses against malignant cells by virtue of their capacity to effectively cross-present exogenous antigens to T lymphocytes. Dying cancer cells are indeed a rich source of antigens that may be harnessed for the development of DC-based vaccines. In particular, malignant cells succumbing to apoptosis, rather than necrosis, appear to release antigens in a manner that allows for the elicitation of adaptive immune responses. In this review, we describe the processes that mediate the cross-presentation of antigens released by apoptotic cancer cells to CD8+T lymphocytes, resulting in the activation of protective tumor-specific immune responses.
U-DANCE and Laboratory of Translational Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Lotte
L
Spel
U-DANCE and Laboratory of Translational Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jaap-Jan
JJ
Boelens
U-DANCE and Laboratory of Translational Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Stefan
S
Nierkens
U-DANCE and Laboratory of Translational Immunology; University Medical Center Utrecht; Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marianne
M
Boes
DAMPs; apoptotic; cross-presentation; dendritic cells; necrotic; storage compartments; type 1 interferon