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Immune system: a double-edged sword in cancer

  • Review Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

The objective of the review is to examine the role of innate and adaptive immune cells in cancer.

Introduction

Immune system functions as a host defensive mechanism protecting against invading pathogens and transformed cells, including cancer. However, a body of research carried out over the last few decades has disclosed the unexpected role of immune system in fostering the tumor growth.

Methods

A computer-based online search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases for articles published, concerning natural killer (NK) cells, Macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with relevance to cancer. After finding relevant articles within these search limits, a manual search was conducted through the references from these articles.

Results and Conclusions

This review summarizes the role of immune system in Immunosurveillance and Immunoediting. It then focused mainly on role of macrophages, regulatory T cells (Treg), TH17 cells and on the immunosuppressive mechanisms, which facilitate immune evasion of tumor cells. Our results shows that, immune cells, such as CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), CD4+ T helper (TH)1 cells and NK cells along with their characteristic cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ, function as major antitumor effector cells. Whereas CD4+TH2 cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and their derived cytokines function as dominant tumor-promoting forces. In contrast to these cells, macrophages, Treg, and TH17 cells show a dual effect in cancer. Thus, it appears that most components of the immune system are potentially endowed with dual functions i.e., promoting tumor development on the one hand and restraining tumor development on the other and hence immune system can be considered as a double-edged sword in cancer.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Ahmed kamal, Project Director, NIPER-Hyderabad, for his support and constant encouragement. This work is partially supported by grant from CSIR under CSC 0111 (SMiLE).

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We declared no conflict of interest in this present work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, 500037, Hyderabad, India

    Bodduluru Lakshmi Narendra, Kasala Eshvendar Reddy & Sistla Ramakrishna

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, 500037, Hyderabad, India

    Saladi Shantikumar

  3. Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, 500007, Hyderabad, India

    Sistla Ramakrishna

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  1. Bodduluru Lakshmi Narendra
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Lakshmi Narendra, B., Eshvendar Reddy, K., Shantikumar, S. et al. Immune system: a double-edged sword in cancer. Inflamm. Res. 62, 823–834 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-013-0645-9

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