The impact of the TIM gene family on tumor immunity and immunosuppression

Increased TIM-3 expression in tumor-associated macrophages predicts a poorer prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) is considered a key negative regulator in T-cell-mediated response. However, few studies have been reported on the relationship between TIM-3 expression in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and clinicopathological characteristics of patients. This study evaluated the correlation between the expression of TIM-3 on the surface of TAMs macrophages in tumor matrix and the clinical outcome of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

The expression of CD68, CD163 and TIM-3 in 248 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery in Zhoushan Hospital from January 2010 to January 2013 was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). From the date of operation to the date of death, overall survival (OS) was measured to analyze the relationship between the expression of Tim-3 and the prognosis of NSCLC patients.

Results

The study assessed 248 patients with NSCLC. TIM-3 expression in TAMs was more frequently identified in patients with higher carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, lymph node metastasis, higher grade, high CD68 expression, and high CD163 expression (P<0.05). The OS of the high TIM-3 expression groups was shorter than that of the low TIM-3 expression groups (P=0.01). Patients with high TIM-3 and CD68/CD163 expressions had the worst prognosis, whereas patients with low expressions of both TIM-3 and CD68/CD163 had the best prognosis (P<0.05). In NSCLC, the OS of the high TIM-3 expression groups was shorter than that of the low TIM-3 expression groups (P=0.01). In lung adenocarcinoma, the OS of the high TIM-3 expression groups was shorter than that of the low TIM-3 expression groups(P=0.03).

Conclusions

TIM-3 expression in TAMs may be a promising prognostic biomarker for NSCLC or adenocarcinoma. Our results demonstrated that high TIM-3 expression in TAMs was an independent predictor of worse prognosis in patients.

MDSCs in pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications: an update†

Maternal-fetal immune tolerance is a process that involves complex interactions of the immune system, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells have emerged as one of the novel immunomodulator in the maintenance of maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are myeloid progenitor cells with immunosuppressive activities on both innate and adaptive cells through various mechanisms. Emerging evidence demonstrates the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells during healthy pregnancy to establish maternal-fetal immune tolerance, placentation, and fetal-growth process. By contrast, the absence or decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells in pregnancy complications like preeclampsia, preterm birth, stillbirth, and recurrent spontaneous abortion have been reported. Here, we have summarized the origin, mechanisms, and functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells during pregnancy along with the recent advancements in this dynamic field. We also shed light on the immunomodulatory activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which can be a foundation for potential therapeutic manipulation in immunological pregnancy complications.

Expression changes of Tim-3 as one of supplementary indicators for monitoring prognosis of liver pathological changes in chronic HBV infection

Purpose

This study was designed to analyze the liver tissue changes among the CHB patients who received treatment for at least 6 months and follow-up for at least 1 year, together with the correlation between the different disease condition and serum markers.

Methods

One-hundred and eighty-five CHB patients underwent antiviral therapy for at least 6 months were enrolled. In the 12-month follow-up, ultrasonography-guided biopsy was performed. The patients were grouped based on the serum markers and pathological changes in liver tissues. Then we determined the serum markers, virological tests and Tim-3 expression among these groups.

Results

Antiviral therapy significantly reduced liver inflammation indicators and serum Tim-3 level. However, the fibrosis process of liver tissue was not changed, and there are still disputes on the serum marker and hepatic lesion outcomes. Under normal liver function or negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) of CHB patients, there might be consensus between Tim-3 change and liver pathological outcome. According to the liver tissue inflammation and fibrosis conditions, Tim-3 was positively correlated with liver function indices. Besides, it was also related to fibrosis stage and inflammation grade.

Conclusion

There were inconsistent changes between serum markers and liver tissue conditions after anti-viral therapy. Tim-3 expression was more suitable to indicate the changes of liver inflammatory and fibrosis response to some extent than ALT and AST. It may serve as a certain indicator to predict the CHB prognosis, which could be used as one of the monitoring indicators in liver pathological changes of chronic HBV infection, especially in monitoring liver tissue inflammation.

Advances in CRISPR/Cas9

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has become the most examined gene editing technology in recent years due to its simple design, yet low cost, high efficiency, and simple operation, which can also achieve simultaneous editing of multiple loci. It can also be carried out without using plasmids, saving lots of troubles caused by plasmids. CRISPR/Cas9 has shown great potential in the study of genes or genomic functions in microorganisms, plants, animals, and human beings. In this review, we will examine the history, structure, and basic mechanisms of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, describe its great value in precision medicine and sgRNA library screening, and dig its great potential in a new field: DNA information storage.

Galectin-9 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in Jurkat and KE-37 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines via caspase-3 activation

Background and purpose:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of blood and bone marrow characterized by abnormal proliferation of lymphoid progenitor cells. Galectin-9 is a tandem-repeat type galectin expressed in various tumor cells. It seems that the connection between galectin-9 and T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 receptor acts as a negative regulator of cancer cells proliferation.

Experimental approach:

In this research, the effects of galectin-9 were investigated using MTS cell proliferation colorimetric, colony-forming, annexin V-FITC/PI, and caspase-3 assays in the Jurkat and KE-37 cell lines of ALL. Furthermore, the western blotting technique was used to evaluate the levels of apoptotic proteins such as Bax and Bcl-2 in these cell lines.

Findings/Results:

Our results indicated that galectin-9 can considerably reduce the cell growth and colony formation ability of both Jurkat and KE-37 cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Besides, galectin-9 induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in ALL cells by a mechanism associated with Bax/Bcl-2 expression and activation of the caspase-3 activation.

Conclusion and implications:

Galectin-9 inhibited the growth and proliferation of cell lines with increased programmed cell death, therefore it can be considered as a potential factor in the progression of ALL therapeutics that needs more research in this context.

The abnormal expression of Tim-3 is involved in the regulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and its correlation with preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

Maternal immune system tolerance to the semi-allogeneic fetus is critical to a successful pregnancy. We previously reported that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) was associated with maternal immune imbalance. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing protein 3 (Tim-3)/Galectin-9 (Gal-9) pathway modulates function of various immune cells in maternal-fetal interface. However, the regulatory effects of Tim-3/Gal-9 signaling on MDSCs and its role in preeclampsia (PE) remain unclear.

METHODS

In the current study we investigated the expression of Tim-3 on MDSC in preeclampsia (PE) patients to further explore the pathogenesis of PE.

RESULTS

The proportion of Tim-3⁺ M-MDSC (monocytic MDSC) cells was higher in PE patients than in healthy control. Meanwhile, the protein expression of Gal-9, as the ligand of Tim-3, was increased in placenta of PE patients. M-MDSC also expressed a higher level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and a lower level of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in PE. Furthermore, our study suggested that blocking Tim-3 could attenuate the inhibitory function of MDSC.

DISCUSSION

The abnormal expression of Tim-3 on MDSC might be involved in the pathogenesis of PE, and could be a marker to evaluate the immune function in PE.

Liver-specific over-expression of Cripto-1 in transgenic mice promotes hepatocyte proliferation and deregulated expression of hepatocarcinogenesis-related genes and signaling pathways

In this study, we investigated the role of embryonic gene Cripto-1 (CR-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using hepatocyte-specific CR-1-overexpressing transgenic mice. The expression of truncated 1.7-kb CR-1 transcript (SF-CR-1) was significantly higher than the full-length 2.0-kb CR-1 transcript (FL-CR-1) in a majority of HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, CR-1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in HCC tissues than adjacent normal liver tissues. Hepatocyte-specific over-expression of CR-1 in transgenic mice enhanced hepatocyte proliferation after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (2/3 PHx). CR-1 over-expression significantly increased in vivo xenograft tumor growth of HCC cells in nude mice and in vitro HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CR-1 over-expression in the transgenic mouse livers deregulated HCC-related signaling pathways such as AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, Stat3, MAPK/ERK, JNK, TGF-β and Notch, as well as expression of HCC-related genes such as CD5L, S100A8, S100A9, Timd4, Orm2, Orm3, PDK4, DMBT1, G0S2, Plk2, Plk3, Gsta1 and Gsta2. However, histological signs of precancerous lesions, hepatocyte dysplasia or HCC formation were not observed in the livers of 3-, 6- or 8-month-old hepatocyte-specific CR-1-overexpressing transgenic mice. These findings demonstrate that liver-specific CR-1 overexpression in transgenic mice deregulates signaling pathways and genes associated with HCC.

Study of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 expression profile in peripheral blood and bone marrow of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy with aggressive tumors of immature lymphocytes. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain 3 (TIM-3) is a Type I transmembrane glycoprotein which is involved in cell proliferation. The objective of this research is to determine the TIM-3 expression in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of 80 samples of normal and ALL patients.

Materials and Methods

The amount of mRNA and protein of TIM-3 measured in the BM and PB the mononuclear layer of samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.

Results

Our findings indicated that relative mRNA expression of TIM-3 in PB and BM of the mononuclear layer of ALL patients was 1.7 and 5 times higher than normals, respectively. We also reported that the protein level of TIM-3 in mononuclear cells of ALL patients was 3.2-fold in BM and two-fold in PB more than normals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study shows that TIM-3 increases in ALL patients, thus the expression of TIM-3 in tumor cells may be considered as a potential predictive factor in ALL patients, which needs to be explored in future.

TIMD4 exhibits regulatory capability on the proliferation and apoptosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Prior studies have noted the importance of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4 (TIMD4) in various diseases and its functions on cell malignant behaviors. However, the biological function of TIMD4 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is unknown.

METHODS

Relative expression of TIMD4 was analyzed based on the GSE56315 array including 88 cases of human tissues. TIMD4 expression in cells was detected using a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blot experiments. Cell proliferation was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and apoptotic properties were assessed through the detection of related proteins by western blotting. The underlying molecular mechanism of TIMD4 in DLBCL was predicted and confirmed using KEGG enrichment analysis and western blotting.

RESULTS

The results indicate that TIMD4 is overexpressed in DLBCL tissues and the poor prognosis of DLBCL patients is significantly linked with the higher TIMD4 expression. The loss-of-TIMD4 experiment in CYP6D reveals that knockdown of TIMD4 blocks cell growth and accelerates cell apoptosis, whereas the gain-of-TIMD4 experiment in Raji cells suggests that up-regulation of TIMD4 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis. The activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is mediated by the TIMD4 expression in DLBCL cells.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that TIMD4 is up-regulated in patients with DLBCL and the regulatory effects of TIMD4 on cell proliferation and apoptosis are associated with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, posing a novel target for DLBCL therapy.

Role of Transmembrane Protein 16F in the Incorporation of Phosphatidylserine Into Budding Ebola Virus Virions

Viral apoptotic mimicry, which is defined by exposure of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) into the outer leaflet of budding enveloped viruses, increases viral tropism, infectivity and promotes immune evasion. Here, we report that the calcium (Ca2+)-dependent scramblase, transmembrane protein 16F (TMEM16F), is responsible for the incorporation of PtdSer into virion membranes during Ebola virus infection. Infection of Huh7 cells with Ebola virus resulted in a pronounced increase in plasma membrane-associated PtdSer, which was demonstrated to be dependent on TMEM16F function. Analysis of virions using imaging flow cytometry revealed that short hairpin RNA-mediated down-regulation of TMEM16F function directly reduced virion-associated PtdSer. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that TMEM16F is a central cellular factor in the exposure of PtdSer in the outer leaflet of viral membranes.

Apoptotic cell clearance in the tumor microenvironment: a potential cancer therapeutic target

Millions of cells in the human body undergo apoptosis not only under normal physiological conditions but also under pathological conditions such as infection or other diseases related to acute tissue injury. Swift apoptotic cell clearance is essential for tissue homeostasis. Defective clearance of dead cells is linked to pathogenesis of diseases such as inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, neurological disease, and cancer. Significance of apoptotic cell clearance has been emerging as an interesting field for disease treatment. Efficient apoptotic cell clearance plays an important role in reducing inflammation through the suppression of inappropriate inflammatory responses under healthy and diseased conditions. However, apoptotic cell clearance related to cancer pathogenesis is more complex in tumor microenvironments. Chronic inflammation resulting from the failure of apoptotic cell clearance can contribute to tumor progression. Conversely, tumor cells can exploit the anti-inflammatory effect of apoptotic cell clearance to generate an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this review, focus is on the current understanding of apoptotic cell clearance in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we discuss how signaling molecules (PtdSer and PtdSer recognition receptor) mediating apoptotic cell clearance are aberrantly expressed in the tumor microenvironment and their current development state as potential therapeutic targets for clinical cancer therapy.

Expression of Tim-3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and placental tissue in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

The expression of T-cell immunoglobulin domain, mucin domain-3 (Tim-3) in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) was investigated.Tim-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of URSA and control groups was assayed by fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Tim-3 protein expression intensity and localization in placental villi and uterine decidua were determined using immunohistochemical assay. The CD4Tim-3/CD4 cell ratio in PBMCs was determined by flow cytometry.Tim-3 mRNA expression in PBMCs was significantly higher in URSA than in normal controls (1.32 ± 0.25 vs 1.20 ± 0.12, P < .05). Tim-3 was expressed in placental tissue from both URSA patients and normal pregnant females (controls); however, the expression intensity was higher in the URSA group (0.54 ± 0.31 vs 0.35 ± 0.22, P < .05). CD4Tim-3/CD4 cell ratio in PBMCs was significantly higher in the URSA group than that in the control group (4.53 ± 1.66% vs 1.28 ± 0.71%, P < .05).Increased Tim-3 expression in PBMCs and placental tissue of URSA might affect maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Tim-3 was involved in the pathogenesis of URSA, which was expected to serve as an indicator for the immune evaluation of URSA.

Engineering Platforms for T Cell Modulation

T cells are crucial contributors to mounting an effective immune response and increasingly the focus of therapeutic interventions in cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmunity. Translation of current T cell immunotherapies has been hindered by off-target toxicities, limited efficacy, biological variability, and high costs. As T cell therapeutics continue to develop, the application of engineering concepts to control their delivery and presentation will be critical for their success. Here, we outline the engineer's toolbox and contextualize it with the biology of T cells. We focus on the design principles of T cell modulation platforms regarding size, shape, material, and ligand choice. Furthermore, we review how application of these design principles has already impacted T cell immunotherapies and our understanding of T cell biology. Recent, salient examples from protein engineering, synthetic particles, cellular and genetic engineering, and scaffolds and surfaces are provided to reinforce the importance of design considerations. Our aim is to provide a guide for immunologists, engineers, clinicians, and the pharmaceutical sector for the design of T cell-targeting platforms.

TIM-4 is expressed on invariant NKT cells but dispensable for their development and function

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-4 (TIM-4), mainly expressed on antigen presenting cells, plays a versatile role in immunoregulation. CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are potent cells involved in the diverse immune responses. It was recently reported that recombinant TIM-4 (rTIM-4) alone enhanced cytokine production in NKT hybridoma, DN32.D3 cells. Hence, we hypothesized that TIM-4 might regulate iNKT cell biology, especially their function of cytokine secretion. For the first time, we identified that TIM-4 was expressed in thymus iNKT cells, and its expression increased upon iNKT cell migration to the secondary lymphoid organs, especially in lymph nodes. Using TIM-4-deficient mice, we found that lack of TIM-4 did not disturb iNKT cell development, maturation, peripheral homeostasis and cytokine secretion. Moreover, TIM-4 deficiency did not alter the polarization of iNKT sublineages, including NKT1, NKT2 and NKT17. Finally, the mixed bone marrow transfer experiments further confirmed normal iNKT cell development and function from TIM-4-deficient bone marrow. In conclusion, our data suggest that TIM-4 is expressed on iNKT cells but dispensable for their development and function.

TIM-4 is differentially expressed in the distinct subsets of dendritic cells in skin and skin-draining lymph nodes and controls skin Langerhans cell homeostasis

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-4 (TIM-4), mainly expressed on dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages, plays an essential role in regulating immune responses. Langerhans cells (LC), which are the sole DC subpopulation residing at the epidermis, are potent mediators of immune surveillance and tolerance. However, the significance of TIM-4 on epidermal LCs, along with other cutaneous DCs, remains totally unexplored. For the first time, we discovered that epidermal LCs expressed TIM-4 and displayed an increased level of TIM-4 expression upon migration. We also found that dermal CD207⁺ DCs and lymph node (LN) resident CD207⁻CD4⁺ DCs highly expressed TIM-4, while dermal CD207⁻ DCs and LN CD207⁻CD4⁻ DCs had limited TIM-4 expressions. Using TIM-4-deficient mice, we further demonstrated that loss of TIM-4 significantly upregulated the frequencies of epidermal LCs and LN resident CD207⁻CD4⁺ DCs. In spite of this, the epidermal LCs of TIM-4-deficient mice displayed normal phagocytic and migratory abilities, comparable maturation status upon the stimulation as well as normal repopulation under the inflamed state. Moreover, lack of TIM-4 did not affect dinitrofluorobenzene-induced contact hypersensitivity response. In conclusion, our results indicated that TIM-4 was differentially expressed in the distinct subsets of DCs in skin and skin-draining LNs, and specifically regulated epidermal LC and LN CD207⁻CD4⁺ DC homeostasis.

Accomplices of the Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment Compromising Antitumor Immunity: Adenosine, Lactate, Acidosis, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Potassium Ions, and Phosphatidylserine

In this minireview, we aim to highlight key factors of the tumor microenvironment, including adenosine, lactate, acidosis, vascular endothelial growth factor, phosphatidylserine, high extracellular K⁺ levels, and tumor hypoxia with respect to antitumor immune functions. Most solid tumors have an immature chaotic microvasculature that results in tumor hypoxia. Hypoxia is a key determinant of tumor aggressiveness and therapy resistance and hypoxia-related gene products can thwart antitumor immune responses.

The significance of TIMD4 expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIMD) family genes are related to innate immune responses. TIMD4 is a receptor for phosphatidylserine and is involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages. In the present study, we found that TIMD4 is expressed on the cancer cells of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). TIMD4 was immunostained in the resected samples of 89 patients diagnosed as ccRCC. High expression of TIMD4 in cancer cells was closely related to short progression free survival time; however, it was not correlated with other clinicopathological factors. Intracellular expression of TIMD4 was observed in the RCC cell line, 786-O. In vitro studies using 786-O cells and shRNA targeting TIMD4 indicated that TIMD4 expression was associated with resistance to sorafenib but not with cell proliferation. TIMD4 might be useful as a prognostic factor and may also be a new target for therapy of ccRCC.

Efferocytosis Signaling in the Regulation of Macrophage Inflammatory Responses

Since the pioneering work of Elie Metchnikoff and the discovery of cellular immunity, the phagocytic clearance of cellular debris has been considered an integral component of resolving inflammation and restoring function of damaged and infected tissues. We now know that the phagocytic clearance of dying cells (efferocytosis), particularly by macrophages and other immune phagocytes, has profound consequences on innate and adaptive immune responses in inflamed tissues. These immunomodulatory effects result from an array of molecular signaling events between macrophages, dying cells, and other tissue-resident cells. In recent years, many of these molecular pathways have been identified and studied in the context of tissue inflammation, helping us better understand the relationship between efferocytosis and inflammation. We review specific types of efferocytosis-related signals that can impact macrophage immune responses and discuss their relevance to inflammation-related diseases.

Co-Signaling Molecules in Maternal-Fetal Immunity

Physiologically, a successful pregnancy requires the maternal immune system to recognize and tolerate the semiallogeneic fetus, and allow for normal invasion of trophoblasts. Thus, pregnancy complications are considered to be associated with dysfunctional maternal-fetal crosstalk. Co-signaling molecules are a group of cell surface molecules that positively or negatively modulate the immune response. Well studied in the fields of oncology and transplantation, they are also suggested to be involved in maternal-fetal crosstalk. Here, we review the latest knowledge on the expression and function of such co-signaling molecules, highlighting their immunoregulatory roles in maternal-fetal tolerance and decidual vascular remodeling, and their involvement in pathological pregnancies. This review may instruct future basic research on, and clinical applications for, maternal-fetal immunity.

Effect of HSV-IL12 Loaded Tumor Cell-Based Vaccination in a Mouse Model of High-Grade Neuroblastoma

We designed multimodal tumor vaccine that consists of irradiated tumor cells infected with the oncolytic IL-12-expressing HSV-1 virus, M002. This vaccine was tested against the syngeneic neuroblastoma mouse model Neuro 2a injected into the right caudate nucleus of the immunocompetent A/J mice. Mice were vaccinated via intramuscular injection of multimodal vaccine or uninfected irradiated tumor cells at seven and 14 days after tumor establishment. While there was no survival difference between groups vaccinated with cell-based vaccine applied following tumor injection, a premunition prime/boost vaccination strategy produced a significant survival advantage in both groups and sustained immune response to an intracranial rechallenge of the same tumor. The syngeneic but unrelated H6 hepatocellular tumor cell line grew unrestricted in vaccinated mice, indicative of vaccine-mediated specific immunity to Neuro 2a tumors. Longitudinal analyses of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes revealed a primary adaptive T cell response involving both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Spleen cell mononuclear preparations from vaccinated mice were significantly more cytotoxic to Neuro 2a tumor cells than spleen cells from control mice as demonstrated in a four-hour in vitro cytotoxicity assay. These results strongly suggest that an irradiated whole cell tumor vaccine incorporating IL-12-expressing M002 HSV can produce a durable, specific immunization in a murine model of intracranial tumor.

Status of and prospects for cancer vaccines against hepatocellular carcinoma in clinical trials

Current therapies to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not satisfactory because of the high rate of recurrence after treatment and because of severe complications after surgery. Cancer vaccines have been studied for decades to achieve effective, micro-invasive, long-lasting anti-tumor action. Cancer vaccines are designed to promote tumor-specific immune responses and increase specific cytotoxic CD8-positive T cells. This review summarizes 16 phase I clinical trials of cancer vaccines against HCC that have been conducted over the past 10 years. According to those trials, the Alpha fetoprotein (AFP), Glypican-3 (GPC3), and Multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3) vaccines were well tolerated and safe. Some early clinical trials have shown that vaccination resulted in a large number of T cells activated by a specific tumor-associated antigen in the circulation, but clinical outcomes were not satisfactory. This may be because targets for immunosuppressive agents have yet to be clearly determined in HCC. Therapeutic regimens that combine activative agents and suppressive agents may profoundly improve clinical outcomes for patients with HCC in the future.

Immunology of chronic myeloid leukemia: current concepts and future goals

Although chronic myeloid leukemia is a rare malignancy, it has developed into a model system for the study of a variety of aspects of cancer biology and immunology. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has resulted in a significant prolongation of the survival rates of chronic myeloid leukemia patients but has not resulted in a cure. There is a growing conviction that this aim can be achieved through immunotherapy. For this concept to be successful, a considerable increase in the present understanding of chronic myeloid leukemia immunology is required. The authors attempt to review and evaluate the current findings that demonstrate a number of immunological aberrations in patients prior to the start of any therapy and their normalization after achieving remission. They also discuss the recent clinical trials with experimental therapeutic vaccines and then present their own strategy on how to address the problem.

Blocking monoclonal antibodies of TIM proteins as orchestrators of anti-tumor immune response

Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based treatment of cancer has a significant effect on current practice in medical oncology, and is considered now as one of the most successful therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. MAbs are designed to initiate or enhance anti-tumor immune responses, which can be achieved by either blocking inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules or triggering activating receptors. TIM gene family members are type-I surface molecules expressed in immune cells, and play important roles in the regulation of both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Therapeutic strategies based on anti-TIMs mAbs have shown promising results in experimental tumor models, and synergistic combinations of anti-TIMs mAbs with cancer vaccines, adoptive T-cell therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy will have great impact on cancer treatment in future clinical development.