Regulatory T Cells and Cancer: A Two-Sided Story.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play pivotal roles in limiting the duration and magnitude of immune response against infectious agents and self-antigens. This is accomplished through contact-dependent and -independent mechanisms that involve crosstalk between Treg cells and other immune and tissue-specific cell types. The same machinery is employed by Tregs to regulate immune responses to cancer, limiting both pro-tumor inflammation and anti-tumor immunity. Factors produced by Treg cells also act directly on transformed epithelial cells and exert opposing effects during different stages of cancer development. Therefore, the immune regulatory cell population serves as a double-edged sword for the development, progression, and treatment of cancers. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the roles of Treg lymphocytes during cancer development, as well as the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism.
a Department of Immunology , School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , CT , USA.
Kepeng
K
Wang
a Department of Immunology , School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , CT , USA.
Anthony T
AT
Vella
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D016207:Cytokines; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
Cancer immunotherapy; cytokines; inflammation; regulatory T cells