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Related Concept Videos

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

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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...
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The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
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Tumor Immunotherapy

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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.
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Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
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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.
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Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions

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Type II hypersensitivity involves IgG and IgM antibodies targeting cell surface antigens, leading to cell destruction. This can occur through complement activation, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), or acting as opsonins for phagocytosis. When excessive, these reactions cause significant tissue damage.Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is a common example, where drugs like penicillin or cephalosporins bind to red blood cells, forming drug-protein complexes. These complexes...
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Isolation and Expansion of Cytotoxic Cytokine-induced Killer T Cells for Cancer Treatment
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How Do Cytotoxic Lymphocytes Kill Cancer Cells?

Luis Martínez-Lostao1, Alberto Anel2, Julián Pardo3

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón)/University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. Nanoscience Institute of Aragon (INA), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|November 15, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Cytotoxic lymphocytes kill cancer cells via granule exocytosis and death ligands. This review explores effector molecules in cancer immunosurveillance and immunotherapy, including non-apoptotic cell death pathways.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cancer immunotherapy offers a potent alternative for aggressive cancers unresponsive to traditional therapies.
  • Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CLs), including cytotoxic T cells (Tc) and natural killer (NK) cells, are key effectors in tumor eradication.
  • While CL activation is well-studied, their cancer cell killing mechanisms remain less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effector molecules utilized by CLs for cancer cell killing.
  • To discuss the roles of granule exocytosis (perforin, granzymes) and death ligands in cancer immunosurveillance and immunotherapy.
  • To explore non-apoptotic cell death pathways and their implications for overcoming treatment resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical discussion of existing research on CL effector molecules.
  • Analysis of pathways involved in CL-mediated tumor cell death.
  • Examination of experimental evidence on non-apoptotic cell death induction by CLs.

Main Results:

  • CLs primarily use granule exocytosis (perforin/granzymes) and death ligands to eliminate cancer cells.
  • Granzymes and death ligands can have unexpected pro-inflammatory and survival effects.
  • CL effector molecules can induce non-apoptotic cell death, bypassing apoptosis defects and chemoresistance.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding CL effector molecules is crucial for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
  • Modulating cell death pathways, including non-apoptotic ones, holds promise for more effective cancer treatments.
  • Further research into CL-mediated cell death mechanisms can optimize immunotherapeutic strategies.