肿瘤侵袭性人 γδ T 细胞的功能与空间组织——我们已知什么

Human gammadelta ( ) T cells not only infiltrate or reside in healthy tissues but also enter solid cancers. A large body of evidence suggests that T cells can exert potent anti-tumor effects, although conflicting or unfavorable effects have been reported in some cancer entities. Infiltration patterns are key to understanding the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its interplay with T cells. The limited data available describe different T cell subsets that are located in different areas around and within tumors. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes ( TIL) exert cytotoxicity, for example, via the CD95- or TRAIL-axis, produce high amounts of granzymes, and after their activation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- or IFN- and express immune checkpoint receptors.

Under certain conditions, T cell subsets can express low amounts of IL-17 and seem to contribute to immune regulation/suppression. A polarization of T cells can be influenced by the TME. Inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, or tumor promoters can suppress T cell functionality or even push them toward tumor promotion. To avoid this and to exploit the unique features of T cell-mediated anti-cancer and immune-orchestrating capabilities in future immune therapy approaches, a growing body of preclinical but also clinical studies can be observed.