PMID: 9537230Apr 16, 1998Paper

Human melanoma-specific, noncytolytic CD8+ T cells that can synthesize type I cytokine

Cancer Research
Nitya G Chakraborty, Bijay Mukherji

Abstract

The existence of CD8+ CTLs that are capable of recognizing MHC class I-bound, human tumor-associated peptide antigens is now unequivocally documented in cancer patients. Thus far, the role of CD8+ T cells in tumor immunity has been predominantly viewed in terms of cytolytic ability as the prime mode of their function. Interestingly, it is increasingly evident that CD8+ T cells are capable of synthesizing both type I and type II cytokines. Thus, it is conceivable that tumor antigen-specific but noncytolytic CD8+ T cells might play an important role in antitumor immune response by synthesizing type I cytokine. Through such cytokines, they could provide "help" for the process of generating as well as in maintaining an effective CD8+ CTL response. In addition, they might recruit other types of effector cells (such as natural killer cells, macrophages, and others) locally at the tumor site. Either way, they could exert a profoundly positive role in cell-mediated antitumor immune response, particularly because the great majority of tumor cells express only MHC class I molecules that present peptide epitopes to CD8+ T cells. Unfortunately, tumor antigen-specific, noncytolytic but type I cytokine-secreting CD8+ T cells have not receive...Continue Reading

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