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Published on: June 12, 2021
Relationship between copper and immunity: The potential role of copper in tumor immunity
Fu Cheng1,2, Geng Peng1,2, Yan Lu1,2
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong, China.
Insights
Copper is vital for immune function and its levels change in disease. Research shows copper ions impact tumor growth and immunity, offering potential new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Oncology
Background:
- Copper is an essential trace element crucial for organismal health.
- Altered copper levels in vivo are indicative of various diseased states.
- Copper's role in immune function and its link to tumor development are increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted roles of copper ions in tumor immunity.
- To investigate the pathways through which copper influences tumor development, growth, and metastasis.
- To highlight the potential of targeting copper in novel cancer therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on copper, immunity, and cancer.
- Analysis of research linking copper ion levels to tumor progression.
- Examination of recent findings on copper's regulation of PD-L1 expression.
Main Results:
- Copper deficiency impairs various aspects of the immune system.
- Elevated copper ion levels are associated with the development of multiple tumors.
- Copper ions are implicated in tumor development, growth, and metastasis via diverse pathways.
- Copper ions can modulate PD-L1 expression, impacting tumor immunity.
Conclusions:
- Copper plays a significant role in both immune system function and cancer development.
- Understanding copper's involvement in tumor immunity can lead to new therapeutic insights.
- Targeting copper metabolism and signaling presents a promising avenue for improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Abstract:
Copper is an essential trace element in an organism, and changes in copper levels in vivo often indicate a diseased state. Copper and immunity have been discussed since the last century, with copper deficiency significantly affecting the development and function of the immune system, such as increased host susceptibility to various pathogens, decreased number and impaired function of neutrophils, reduced antibacterial activity of macrophages, decreased proliferation of splenocytes, impaired B cell ability to produce antibodies and impaired function of cytotoxic T lymphocyte and helper T cells. In the past 20 years, some studies have shown that copper ions are related to the development of many tumors, including lung cancer, acute lymphoid leukaemia, multiple myeloma and other tumors, wherein copper ion levels were significantly elevated, and current studies reveal that copper ions are involved in the development, growth and metastasis of tumors through various pathways. Moreover, recent studies have shown that copper ions can regulate the expression of PD-L1, thus, attention should be paid to the important role of copper in tumor immunity. By exploring and studying copper ions and tumor immunity, new insights into tumor immunity could be generated and novel therapeutic approaches to improve the clinical prognosis of patients can be provided.
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