The role of the common gamma-chain family cytokines in γδ T cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapy

Heleen H Van Acker; Diana Campillo-Davo; Gils Roex; Maarten Versteven; Evelien L Smits; Viggo F Van Tendeloo

doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.05.002

The role of the common gamma-chain family cytokines in γδ T cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapy

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2018 Jun:41:54-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.05.002. Epub 2018 May 16.

Authors

Heleen H Van Acker¹, Diana Campillo-Davo², Gils Roex², Maarten Versteven², Evelien L Smits³, Viggo F Van Tendeloo²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: heleen.vanacker@uantwerp.be.
² Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.
³ Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

PMID: 29773448
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.05.002

Abstract

Cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family, comprising interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21, are vital with respect to organizing and sustaining healthy immune cell functions. Supporting the anti-cancer immune response, these cytokines inspire great interest for their use as vaccine adjuvants and cancer immunotherapies. It is against this background that gamma delta (γδ) T cells, as special-force soldiers and natural contributors of the tumor immunosurveillance, also received a lot of attention the last decade. As γδ T cell-based cancer trials are coming of age, this present review focusses on the effects of the different cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family on γδ T cells with respect to boosting γδ T cells as a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. This review also gathers data that IL-15 in particular exhibits key features for augmenting the anti-tumor activity of effector killer γδ T cells whilst overcoming the myriad of immune escape mechanisms used by cancer cells.

Keywords: Cancer immunotherapy; Common gamma-chain family; Gamma delta T cells; IL-2 cytokine family; Interleukin-15.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cytokines / immunology*
Humans
Immunotherapy / methods
Intraepithelial Lymphocytes / immunology*
Neoplasms / immunology*
Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

Cytokines