Novel immune checkpoint targets: A promising therapy for cancer treatments

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Jan 5:126:111186. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111186. Epub 2023 Nov 17.

Abstract

The immune system frequently comprises immunological checkpoints. They serve as a barrier to keep the immune system from overreacting and damaging cells that are robust. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are utilized in immunotherapy to prevent the synergy of partner proteins of checkpoint proteins with auxiliary proteins. Moreover, the T cells may target malignant cells since the "off" signal cannot be conveyed. ICIs, which are mostly composed of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and anti- programmed death-1/programmed ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1), might transform the context of cancer therapy. Further, more patients continued to exhibit adaptive resistance, even though several ICIs demonstrated convincing therapeutic benefits in selective tumor types. Immune checkpoint therapy's overall effectiveness is still lacking at this time. A popular area of study involves investigating additional immune checkpoint molecules. Recent research has found a number of fresh immune checkpoint targets, including NKG2A ligands, TIGIT, B7-H6 ligands, Galectin 3, TIM3, and so on. These targets have been focus of the study, and recent investigational approaches have shown encouraging outcomes. In this review article, we covered the development and present level understanding of these recently identified immune checkpoint molecules, its effectiveness and limitations.

Keywords: B7-H6 ligand; Galectin 3; HHLA2 protein; NKG2A ligands; TIGIT; TIM3.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins* / metabolism
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • B7-H1 Antigen