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Antigen processing and immune regulation in the response to tumours
Author(s) -
Reeves Emma,
James Edward
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/imm.12675
Subject(s) - immune system , cytotoxic t cell , antigen processing , biology , antigen , antigen presentation , immunology , major histocompatibility complex , mhc class i , acquired immune system , cd8 , epitope , antigen presenting cell , t cell , cancer research , genetics , in vitro
Summary The MHC class I and II antigen processing and presentation pathways display peptides to circulating CD 8 + cytotoxic and CD 4 + helper T cells respectively to enable pathogens and transformed cells to be identified. Once detected, T cells become activated and either directly kill the infected / transformed cells ( CD 8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes) or orchestrate the activation of the adaptive immune response ( CD 4 + T cells). The immune surveillance of transformed/tumour cells drives alteration of the antigen processing and presentation pathways to evade detection and hence the immune response. Evasion of the immune response is a significant event tumour development and considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. To avoid immune recognition, tumours employ a multitude of strategies with most resulting in a down‐regulation of the MHC class I expression at the cell surface, significantly impairing the ability of CD 8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes to recognize the tumour. Alteration of the expression of key players in antigen processing not only affects MHC class I expression but also significantly alters the repertoire of peptides being presented. These modified peptide repertoires may serve to further reduce the presentation of tumour‐specific/associated antigenic epitopes to aid immune evasion and tumour progression. Here we review the modifications to the antigen processing and presentation pathway in tumours and how it affects the anti‐tumour immune response, considering the role of tumour‐infiltrating cell populations and highlighting possible future therapeutic targets.