Blog | HemaCare

A recent study looked at how checkpoint inhibitors may impact the success of immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

Immune homeostasis is crucial for human and animal survival. The immune system is equipped with cells and factors that maintain a critical balance of signals that prevent immune dysfunction. Pathways that ensure this balance are immune checkpoints, and these are essential for the self-tolerance that prevents autoimmunity. Immune checkpoint proteins modulate T-cell responses to self-proteins and antigens, including tumor antigens. The proteins are expressed on the surface of cancer and cytotoxic T cells, and cancer cells use these to evade attack by T cells.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in adults. It is due to the growth of neoplastic B cells in the bone marrow, blood, and lymphoid tissues. People with relapsed/refractory high-risk CLL do not respond to conventional treatments. A possible valuable strategy to design T-cell−based treatment involves the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1). ROR1 mRNA is found to be highly expressed in CLL cells; however, it is not found to be expressed in other bone marrow–derived cells, including blood cells, or normal adult non-hematopoietic cells. Higher expression of ROR1 in CLL cells was correlated with lower CLL survival. Therefore, ROR1 may play a key role in the progression of CLL.

Minimal change disease (MCD) is a kidney disease characterized by pathology in the glomeruli. The disease has its name because changes associated with it can only be seen via electron microscopy. The effects on the glomeruli lead to its increase in permeability and subsequent severe loss of proteins in the urine. Immunological changes in the kidney tissue are thought to promote the development of MCD. Research studies have suggested that abnormalities in Foxp3 T regulatory (Treg) cells, which control immune homeostasis, are involved in MCD pathogenesis.

The influenza A virus (IAV) is the cause of yearly seasonal flu epidemics and is eliminated by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. Recognition of infected cells is mediated by T cell receptors composed of two (a and b) glycoprotein chains. These receptors bind viral peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on infected cells. Cytotoxic T cell receptors that recognize GILGFVFTL (GIL), the immunodominant epitope of IAV, are produced in people who express the MHC class I molecule HLA-A2.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer originating from cells of the bone marrow and remains difficult to cure due to relapses. There have been significant advances in the development of immunotherapeutic approaches to various types of cancer. Immunotherapy stimulates the patient’s immune system to destroy cancer cells without the harmful adverse effects seen with conventional chemotherapy.