Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Inflammatory Response

Inflammatory Response

An inflammatory response is a localized, nonspecific immune reaction that occurs when a tissue is injured. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are commonly called the cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation. Inflammation can sometimes result in a loss of function.
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...

T Cell Types and Functions

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Expression of EGFRvIII and its co‑expression with wild‑type EGFR, or putative cancer stem cell biomarkers CD44 or EpCAM are associated with poorer prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Oncology reports·2024

Same author

Evolution and the critical role of the microbiota in the reduced mental and physical health associated with low socioeconomic status (SES).

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2024

Same author

The old friends hypothesis: evolution, immunoregulation and essential microbial inputs.

Frontiers in allergy·2023

Same author

Releasing the restraints of Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells in cancer immunotherapy.

Frontiers in immunology·2023

Same author

Editorial: Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer - turning the immunological desert into an oasis of hope.

Frontiers in oncology·2022

Same author

Evolution, the Immune System, and the Health Consequences of Socioeconomic Inequality.

mSystems·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology (I-O) Research

A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology (I-O) Research

Published on: August 15, 2019

Infection, immunoregulation, and cancer.

Graham A W Rook¹, Angus Dalgleish

¹Department of Infection, University College London (UCL), London, UK. g.rook@ucl.ac.uk

Immunological Reviews

|February 26, 2011

Summary

Modern lifestyles may increase cancer risk by impairing immune regulation, similar to chronic inflammatory diseases. Reduced microbial exposure, linked to the hygiene hypothesis, could explain this link, suggesting new microbe-based cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

Immunology
Oncology
Epidemiology

Background:

Cancer incidence has risen alarmingly with industrialization, paralleling increases in chronic inflammatory disorders.
Current theories attribute cancer increases to diet or carcinogen exposure, but fail to explain parallel trends in inflammatory diseases.
The hygiene hypothesis suggests reduced microbial exposure impairs immunoregulatory circuits, potentially linking inflammatory and neoplastic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the parallel increase in cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders.
To investigate the role of immunoregulatory defects and microbial exposure in oncogenesis.
To evaluate the potential of microbe-based immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

Comparative epidemiological analysis of cancer and inflammatory disease incidence.

More Related Videos

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Published on: November 16, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology (I-O) Research

A Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell (PBMC) Engrafted Humanized Xenograft Model for Translational Immuno-oncology (I-O) Research

Published on: August 15, 2019

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Published on: November 16, 2016

Review of existing literature on the hygiene hypothesis and immunoregulatory mechanisms.

Examination of recent research on regulatory T cells in cancer development.

Main Results:

Cancer incidence trends closely mirror those of chronic inflammatory disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and autoimmunity.
Dysregulated chronic inflammation promotes oncogenesis and tumor cell proliferation/spread.
Regulatory T cells may protect against cancer in certain contexts, challenging previous assumptions.

Conclusions:

A modern failure to downregulate inappropriate inflammation, possibly due to reduced microbial exposure, may underlie parallel increases in some cancers and inflammatory disorders.
Understanding the interplay between inflammation, immunity, and oncogenesis is crucial.
Microbe-based immunotherapies hold promise for future cancer treatment strategies.