title: The emerging immunological role of post-translational modifications by reactive nitrogen species in cancer microenvironment.
abstract: Under many inflammatory contexts, such as tumor progression, systemic and peripheral immune response is tailored by reactive nitrogen species (RNS)-dependent post-translational modifications, suggesting a biological function for these chemical alterations. RNS modify both soluble factors and receptors essential to induce and maintain a tumor-specific immune response, creating a "chemical barrier" that impairs effector T cell infiltration and functionality in tumor microenvironment and supports the escape phase of cancer. RNS generation during tumor growth mainly depends on nitric oxide production by both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells that constitutively activate essential metabolic pathways of l-arginine catabolism. This review provides an overview of the potential immunological and biological role of RNS-induced modifications and addresses new approaches targeting RNS either in search of novel biomarkers or to improve anti-cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandri
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrarini
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pagliarello
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sartoris
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ugel
authors.affiliation: Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marigo
authors.affiliation: Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Molon
authors.affiliation: Immunology Section, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bronte
keywords: RNS; cancer; immune escape; microenvironment; nitrotyrosine