New checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy

Immunol Rev. 2017 Mar;276(1):52-65. doi: 10.1111/imr.12524.

Abstract

Immune responses must be fine-tuned to allow effective clearance of invading pathogens, while maintain tolerance to self-antigens. T cells are the major effector cells for fighting and killing tumor cells. Immune checkpoints play a pivotal role in T cell activation, and determine the functional outcome of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. The blockade of immune checkpoints CTLA-4 and PD-1 has already been one of the most successful cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we will focus on three novel inhibitory B7 family checkpoint molecules, B7-H3, B7S1 and VISTA. The aim of this article is to summarize their expressions in tumors as well as their roles in controlling and suppressing T cell immune responses and anti-tumor immunity. These pathways may be explored in future cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: VISTA; B7-H3; B7S1; immune checkpoints; immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • B7 Antigens / immunology
  • B7 Antigens / metabolism
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / immunology
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotherapy / trends
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Self Tolerance
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tumor Escape
  • V-Set Domain-Containing T-Cell Activation Inhibitor 1 / immunology
  • V-Set Domain-Containing T-Cell Activation Inhibitor 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • B7 Antigens
  • CD276 protein, human
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • V-Set Domain-Containing T-Cell Activation Inhibitor 1
  • VSIR protein, human
  • VTCN1 protein, human