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Published on: March 30, 2018
Tumor cell recognition by lymphocytes: is the MHC always essential?
1Oncolmmunin, Inc., College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Critical Reviews in Immunology
|January 7, 1998
Summary
Tumor cells release factors that stimulate immune cells. Intracellular proteins, like Oncoimmunin-L, show potent antitumor activity, suggesting novel mechanisms for immune recognition beyond surface antigens.
Area of Science:
- Oncoimmunology
- Tumor immunology
- Molecular mechanisms of immune response
Background:
- Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) exhibit antitumor efficacy beyond cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs).
- Investigating alternative tumor recognition mechanisms beyond MHC-antigen complexes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel sources of immunostimulatory activity for human TILs.
- To explore tumor cell components (membrane, secreted, intracellular) as mitogenic sources.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of tumor cell components (plasma membrane, secreted, intracellular) for mitogenic activity on human TILs.
- Biochemical characterization of potent immunostimulatory proteins, including Oncoimmunin-L.
Main Results:
- Intracellular tumor components were the most potent mitogenic sources for human TILs.
- Oncoimmunin-L, a 45-kDa intracellular protein, demonstrated significant immunostimulatory activity.
- Oncoimmunin-L shares sequence similarity with serpin family proteins, including human leukocyte elastase inhibitor.
Conclusions:
- Soluble factors derived from tumor cell cytosol, such as Oncoimmunin-L, represent a significant source of tumor immunogenicity.
- These findings suggest novel pathways for tumor recognition and immune evasion.
- Further characterization of tumor cell-immunocyte interactions is needed to define the tumor immunoenvironment.
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