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Updated: May 10, 2026

Tumor Transplantation for Assessing the Dynamics of Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2021
Tumor-derived vascular pericytes anergize Th cells
Anamika Bose1, Subhasis Barik, Saptak Banerjee
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India. anamikabose2@gmail.com
Tumor pericytes hinder anti-cancer immunity by suppressing T cell activation and promoting anergy. Targeting these pericytes may improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment is crucial for cancer growth and limits immunotherapy success.
- Stromal cells are known to support cancer progression, but their role in immune evasion is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of tumor-derived vascular pericytes in modulating anti-tumor immune responses.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which pericytes influence T cell function and immune evasion.
Main Methods:
- Co-culture systems involving tumor pericytes and CD4(+) T cells.
- Analysis of T cell activation, proliferation, and anergy.
- Investigation of signaling pathways involving regulator of G protein signaling 5 (RGS5) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6).
Main Results:
- Tumor-derived pericytes significantly inhibit CD4(+) T cell activation and proliferation.
- Pericytes induce anergy in recall responses of CD4(+)CD44(+) T cells.
- These effects are mediated through RGS5 and IL-6 dependent pathways.
Conclusions:
- Tumor-derived pericytes play a novel and direct role in immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment.
- Targeting tumor pericytes represents a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapy.
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