The double-edge role of B cells in mediating antitumor T-cell immunity: Pharmacological strategies for cancer immunotherapy.
Emerging evidence reveals the controversial role of B cells in antitumor immunity, but the underlying mechanisms have to be explored. Three latest articles published in the issue 521 of Nature in 2015 reconfirmed the puzzling topic and put forward some explanations of how B cells regulate antitumor T-cell responses both positively and negatively. This paper attempts to demonstrate that different B-cell subpopulations have distinct immunological properties and that they are involved in either antitumor responses or immunosuppression. Recent studies supporting the positive and negative roles of B cells in tumor development were summarized comprehensively. Several specific B-cell subpopulations, such as IgG(+), IgA(+), IL-10(+), and regulatory B cells, were described in detail. The mechanisms underlying the controversial B-cell effects were mainly attributed to different B-cell subpopulations, different B-cell-derived cytokines, direct B cell-T cell interaction, different cancer categories, and different malignant stages, and the immunological interaction between B cells and T cells is mediated by dendritic cells. Promising B-cell-based antitumor strategies were proposed and novel B-cell regulators were summarized to present interesting therapeutic targets. Future investigations are needed to make sure that B-cell-based pharmacological strategies benefit cancer immunotherapy substantially.
Department of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056002, PR China. Electronic address: wangjingzhang1981@gmail.com.
Jing-Zhang
JZ
Wang
Department of Library, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, PR China.
Yu-Hua
YH
Zhang
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056002, PR China.
Xin-Hua
XH
Guo
Department of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056002, PR China.
Hong-Yan
HY
Zhang
Department of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056002, PR China.
Yuan
Y
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines
B cell; B-cell-based pharmacological strategies; Cancer immunotherapy; Immune response; Immune tolerance; T cell