Tumor immunity meets autoimmunity: Antigen levels and dendritic cell maturation

Michael T. Spiotto, Yang Xin Fu, Hans Schreiber

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Naïve T cells in the draining lymph node (DLN) do not immediately respond to antigenic tissues or antigenic cancers in the periphery. Rather, the conditions under which naïve T cells encounter antigen in the DLN can result in the distinct immunological states of ignorance, tolerance or immunity. Recent work suggests that these immunological states are determined by the level of antigen expressed by peripheral tissues and the maturation stage of the dendritic cell presenting the antigen. When antigens are expressed at levels that are sufficient to be cross-presented by mature dendritic cells in the DLN, naïve T cells can respond to self antigens or tumor antigens to induce a state of autoimmunity or tumor immunity, respectively. Exploiting these conditions to target unique tumor antigens will enable us to develop better cancer immunotherapies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)725-730
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent Opinion in Immunology
Volume15
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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