Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
16:26
Regulatory T cells: Therapeutic Potential for Treating Transplant Rejection and Type I Diabetes
Published on: August 20, 2007
Immunotherapy approaches targeting regulatory T-cells.
Hideya Onishi1, Takashi Morisaki, Mitsuo Katano
1Department of Cancer Therapy and Research, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. ohnishi@surg1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Anticancer Research
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Cancer cells evade immune surveillance, often aided by regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Inhibiting Tregs is crucial for improving cancer immunotherapy success in patients with advanced cancer.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- The immune system's innate and adaptive surveillance mechanisms normally prevent cancer development and progression.
- Cancer cells can evade immune detection and elimination.
- Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play a significant role in facilitating immune evasion by cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent immunotherapy strategies aimed at targeting regulatory T-cells (Tregs).
- To highlight the role of Tregs in limiting the efficacy of current human tumor immunotherapies.
- To explore methods for inhibiting Treg function and numbers to enhance cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes findings from recent scientific literature.
- Focuses on immunotherapies designed to counteract Treg-mediated immunosuppression.
- Examines the impact of Treg inhibition on tumor progression and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are identified as a key factor in the limited success of existing cancer immunotherapies.
- Strategies targeting Tregs show promise in overcoming immune evasion by tumors.
- Inhibiting Treg activity is a potential approach to improve patient responses to immunotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Targeting regulatory T-cells (Tregs) represents a promising avenue for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
- Further research into Treg inhibition is warranted to improve treatment efficacy for advanced cancers.
- Modulating the tumor microenvironment by targeting Tregs could overcome treatment resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor 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.
01:24T 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...
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...