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Regulatory T cell subsets in human cancer: are they regulating for or against tumor progression?

  • Focussed Research Review
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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in maintaining the balance of immune responses in human health and in disease. Treg come in many flavors and can utilize a variety of mechanisms to modulate immune responses. In cancer, inducible (i) or adaptive Treg expand, accumulate in tissues and the peripheral blood of patients, and represent a functionally prominent component of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Phenotypically and functionally, iTreg are distinct from natural (n) Treg. A subset of iTreg expressing ectonucleotidases, CD39 and CD73, is able to hydrolyze ATP to 5′-AMP and adenosine (ADO) and thus mediate suppression of those immune cells which express ADO receptors. iTeg can also produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). These iTreg, expanding in response to tumor antigens and cytokines such as TGF-β or IL-10, are presumably responsible for the suppression of anti-tumor immune responses and for successful tumor escape. On the other hand, in cancers associated with prominent inflammatory infiltrates, e.g., colorectal carcinoma or certain types of breast cancer, iTreg down-regulate excessive inflammation by producing ADO and/or PGE2 and protect the host from tissue injury and tumor development. Thus, iTreg utilizing the same adenosine pathway play a key but dual role in cancer, and their plasticity is controlled and driven by the microenvironment. Thus, monitoring for the frequency and functions of iTreg rather than nTreg is important in cancer. In addition, elimination of iTreg by various available strategies prior to immunotherapies may not be beneficial in all cases and needs to be undertaken with caution.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by the NIH Grant P01 CA109688.

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The author declares no conflict of interest.

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  1. Departments of Pathology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Suite 1.27, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Theresa L. Whiteside

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Correspondence to Theresa L. Whiteside.

Additional information

This paper is a Focussed Research Review based on a presentation given at the Third International Conference on Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunomonitoring (CITIM 2013), held in Krakow, Poland, April 22–25, 2013. It is part of a CII series of Focussed Research Reviews and meeting report.

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Whiteside, T.L. Regulatory T cell subsets in human cancer: are they regulating for or against tumor progression?. Cancer Immunol Immunother 63, 67–72 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-013-1490-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-013-1490-y

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