The polarization of immune cells in the tumour environment by TGFbeta.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) is an immunosuppressive cytokine produced by tumour cells and immune cells that can polarize many components of the immune system. This Review covers the effects of TGFbeta on natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, CD8(+) and CD4(+) effector and regulatory T cells, and NKT cells in animal tumour models and in patients with cancer. Collectively, many recent studies favour the hypothesis that blocking TGFbeta-induced signalling in the tumour microenvironment enhances antitumour immunity and may be beneficial for cancer therapy. An overview of the current drugs and reagents available for inhibiting TGFbeta-induced signalling and their phase in clinical development is also provided.

• Authors: Richard A Flavell, Shomyseh Sanjabi, Stephen H Wrzesinski, Paula Licona-Limón
• Journal: Nature reviews. Immunology (Nat Rev Immunol) Vol. 10 Issue 8 Pg. 554-67 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1474-1741 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20616810 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Cytokines
• Transforming Growth Factor beta

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Cell Polarity (immunology)
• Cytokines (immunology)
• Dendritic Cells (immunology)
• Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary
• Humans
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Macrophages (immunology)
• Neoplasms (immunology, therapy)
• Neutrophils (immunology)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (antagonists & inhibitors, immunology, metabolism)