Activation of anti-tumor immune responses by the control of regulatory T cells

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26290054
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Tumor therapeutics
• Research Institution: Nagoya University (2016); National Cancer Center Japan (2015); Osaka University (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Nishikawa Hiroyoshi 名古屋大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10444431)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): DOKI Yuichiro 大阪大学, 大学院医学研究科, 教授 (20291445) ; TANEMURA Atsushi 大阪大学, 大学院医学研究科, 助教 (50457016)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: がん / 免疫制御 / がん免疫療法 / 制御性T細胞 / エフェクターT細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

FoxP3+CD25+CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, crucial for the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance, are abundant in tumors and inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. To address the Treg suppression to tumor antigens particularly derived from self-antigens, Melan-A -specific CD8+ T cells were stimulated in the presence of Treg cells. Treg cells rendered Melan-A-specific T cells anergic (i.e., hypo-proliferative and cytokine hypo-producing upon antigen re-stimulation). Then, developing novel strategies to control Treg cells, particularly in cancers that do not contain large numbers of neoantigens is important for effective cancer immunotherapies.

Free Research Field

腫瘍学　免疫学