Visions of the Hereafter: Releasing the Brakes of the Immune System by Checkpoint Inhibition Immunotherapy
Journal Title: International Journal of Immunology and Immunotherapy - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 1
Abstract
Activation and control of the immune system is regulated by costimulatory molecules as well as by checkpoint inhibitors. Checkpoints are essential in maintaining self-tolerance and minimizing collateral damage by modulating the immune response. Evasion of the immune system, one of the hallmarks of cancer, has been found to include interference with checkpoints by tumor cells as one of the evasive mechanisms. Tumor cells express molecules that when bound to their respective ligand or receptor, send out inhibitory signals that block T-cell activation. Specific antibodies have been engineered against these immunosuppresive molecules (mainly CTLA-4 and PD-1) such that the T-cells can exert cytotoxic anti-tumor effects. These antibody therapies have been found to be very effective for a number of malignancies, especially melanoma and lung cancer. The downside is that this therapy comes with serious adverse immune-mediated events, a direct consequence of releasing the brakes of the immune system. In comparison with patients with a deficiency in the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) transcription factor, the side effects however are manageable and certainly acceptable in light of the otherwise fatal underlying disease. Combination of different checkpoint inhibition antibodies, including novel immunoregulatory molecules may further enhance the effectiveness of this form of therapy and broaden the range of susceptible tumors. The vision of the hereafter for immunotherapy by checkpoint inhibition therefore looks bright.
Non-Specific Vaccination Exerts Anti-Tumor Effect through CD11c (+) Cells Stimulation in a Breast Cancer Model
Background: Immunotherapy by using non-specific vaccines has proven to be effective in experimental animal models and also in patients suffering cancer. In the present work, the effectiveness of this immunotherapy was ev...
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Encoded Dutpase Exacerbates the Immune pathology of Lupus Nephritis In Vivo
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an environmental factor with strong links to systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) pathogenesis; however, the mechanism(s) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether the EBV...
Early Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin for X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia
Introduction: Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) utilization is limited in Spain. Our aim was to describe our experience with SCIG from the diagnosis in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Case Presentatio...
Inhibition of Macrophage Activation and Lymphocyte Function of Annona vepretorum Mart. (Annonaceae) Natural Products
Immunomodulatory drugs are widely used for the treatment of inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions; however, their prolonged use is usually associated with the appearance of side effects and many immune disorders co...
Dextran-Conjugated Anti-Immunoglobulin Antibodies: A Powerful Tool for Studying B Cell Receptor-Mediated Signaling
Dextran-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies (anti-Ig-dex) consist of a high molecular weight dextran (~1-2 × 106 MW) to which multiple monoclonal anti-IgM or anti-IgD antibodies are covalently linked. These so...