Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
Immunol Res. 2010 Mar;46(1-3):79-93. doi: 10.1007/s12026-009-8124-7.
Immune cells infiltrate tumors and make up a significant component of the multicellular cancer micro-environment, yet the immune system often fails to prevent tumor formation and progression. One explanation for this paradox is the presence of tolerance-promoting regulatory T cells (Tregs) that counteract antitumor immune cells. Tregs were known to be essential for maintaining self-tolerance. Recently, Tregs have been found to promote tolerance to tumors in mouse models. Moreover, Treg infiltration in human tumors and malignant ascites is associated with worse clinical outcomes for various types of cancers. As many reviews have discussed the development and function of Tregs, this review focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which Tregs influence antitumor immune responses, and also discusses how these mechanisms might be exploited to develop innovative immune-based approaches that can improve cancer therapy.
免疫细胞浸润肿瘤并构成多细胞癌症微环境的重要组成部分，但免疫系统常常无法阻止肿瘤的形成和进展。对于这种矛盾现象的一种解释是存在促进耐受的调节性 T 细胞 (Treg)，它们对抗抗肿瘤免疫细胞。Treg 被认为是维持自身耐受所必需的。最近，在小鼠模型中发现 Treg 促进了对肿瘤的耐受。此外，人类肿瘤和恶性腹水中的 Treg 浸润与各种类型癌症的更差临床结局相关。由于许多综述已经讨论了 Treg 的发育和功能，因此本综述重点讨论了 Treg 影响抗肿瘤免疫反应的细胞和分子机制，并讨论了如何利用这些机制开发创新的基于免疫的方法，以改善癌症治疗。
