Innate immune cells: Key players of orchestra in modulating tumor microenvironment (TME)

Mahvash Sadeghi; Sajad Dehnavi; Moosa Sharifat; Amir Mohammad Amiri; Ali Khodadadi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27480

Innate immune cells: Key players of orchestra in modulating tumor microenvironment (TME)

Heliyon. 2024 Mar 3;10(5):e27480. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27480. eCollection 2024 Mar 15.

Authors

Mahvash Sadeghi^{1

2}, Sajad Dehnavi³, Moosa Sharifat¹, Amir Mohammad Amiri^{1

2}, Ali Khodadadi^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
³ Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Cancer, Petroleum and Environmental Pollutants Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment (TME) with vital role in cancer progression is composed of various cells such as endothelial cells, immune cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. In particular, innate immune cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils, innate lymphoid cells, γδT lymphocytes, and natural killer cells can either promote or suppress tumor progression when present in the TME. An increase in research on the cross-talk between the TME and innate immune cells will lead to new approaches for anti-tumoral therapeutic interventions. This review primarily focuses on the biology of innate immune cells and their main functions in the TME. In addition, it summarizes several innate immune-based immunotherapies that are currently tested in clinical trials.

Keywords: Anti-tumor treatment; Immunotherapy; Innate immune cells; Tumor microenvironment (TME).

Publication types

Review