Cited by 1,860T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyCancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersImmunotherapy and Immune Responses

Regulatory T cells in cancer immunotherapy

Open access
Tanaka, Atsushi, Sakaguchi, Shimon·2017·Cell Research

Abstract

FOXP3-expressing regulatory T (Treg) cells, which suppress aberrant immune response against self-antigens, also suppress anti-tumor immune response. Infiltration of a large number of Treg cells into tumor tissues is often associated with poor prognosis. There is accumulating evidence that the removal of Treg cells is able to evoke and enhance anti-tumor immune response. However, systemic depletion of Treg cells may concurrently elicit deleterious autoimmunity. One strategy for evoking effective tumor immunity without autoimmunity is to specifically target terminally differentiated effector Treg cells rather than all FOXP3+ T cells, because effector Treg cells are the predominant cell type in tumor tissues. Various cell surface molecules, including chemokine receptors such as CCR4, that are specifically expressed by effector Treg cells can be the candidates for depleting effector Treg cells by specific cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies. In addition, other immunological characteristics of effector Treg cells, such as their high expression of CTLA-4, active proliferation, and apoptosis-prone tendency, can be exploited to control specifically their functions. For example, anti-CTLA-4 antibody may kill effector Treg cells or attenuate their suppressive activity. It is hoped that combination of Treg-cell targeting (e.g., by reducing Treg cells or attenuating their suppressive activity in tumor tissues) with the activation of tumor-specific effector T cells (e.g., by cancer vaccine or immune checkpoint blockade) will make the current cancer immunotherapy more effective.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Sakaguchi S. Naturally arising CD4 + regulatory T cells for immunologic self-tolerance and negative control of immune responses. Annu Rev Immunol 2004; 22:531-562.
  2. Nishikawa H, Sakaguchi S. Regulatory T cells in cancer im- munotherapy. Curr Opin Immunol 2014; 27:1-7.

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Authors
Tanaka, A., & Sakaguchi, S.
Affiliations
Immunology Frontier Research Center, The University of Osaka (JP)
Corresponding author
Sakaguchi, Shimon
Venue
Cell Research
Published
2016-12-20
Volume
27
Issue
1
Pages
109-118
ISSN
  • 1001-0602 (ISSN-L)
  • 1748-7838
OpenAlex
W2561926137
Cited by
1,860
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 113 · 2025: 198 · 2024: 315 · 2023: 275 · 2022: 274 · 2021: 207 · 2020: 154 · 2019: 144 · 2018: 126 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
10.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (16H06295, 17K15723)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
Keywords
regulatory T cells, Foxp3, cancer immunotherapy, antitumor immunity, effector regulatory T cells, Treg depletion, autoimmunity, CCR4, CTLA-4, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, tumor-infiltrating Treg cells, immune checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, Treg suppressive function
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Immunity, Immunotherapy, Neoplasms, Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating, Models, Immunological, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

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