title: Impaired T-Cell Function in B-Cell Lymphoma: A Direct Consequence of Events at the Immunological Synapse?
abstract: Tumors can escape immune destruction through the development of antigen loss variants and loss of antigen processing/presentation pathways, thereby rendering them invisible to T cells. Alternatively, mechanisms of peripheral T-cell tolerance that would normally be important for protection from the development of autoimmunity may also be co-opted to (i) generate an immuno-inhibitory tumor environment, (ii) promote development of regulatory cell populations, or (iii) cell-intrinsically inactivate tumor-specific T cells. Emerging evidence suggests that T-cell function is impaired in hematological malignancies, which may manifest from cognate interactions between T cells and the tumor. The immunological synapse forms the cognate T-cell and antigen-presenting cell interaction and is the site where key signalling events, including those delivered by co-inhibitory receptors, that determine the fate of T cells occur. Here, we review evidence that events at the immune synapse between T cells and malignant B cells and alterations in immune synapse function may contribute to loss of T-cell function in B-cell malignancies.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nassef Kadry Naguib Roufaiel
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute , Brisbane, QLD , Australia.
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Steptoe
keywords: T-cell function; T-cell tolerance; immunological synapse; lymphoma