Unconventional T Cell Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy

Publication date: 20 March 2018
Source:Immunity, Volume 48, Issue 3
Author(s): Dale I. Godfrey, Jérôme Le Nours, Daniel M. Andrews, Adam P. Uldrich, Jamie Rossjohn
Most studies on the immunotherapeutic potential of T cells have focused on CD8 and CD4 T cells that recognize peptide antigens (Ag) presented by polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and MHC class II molecules, respectively. However, unconventional T cells, which interact with MHC class Ib and MHC-I like molecules, are also implicated in tumor immunity, although their role therein is unclear. These include unconventional T cells targeting MHC class Ib molecules such as HLA-E and its murine ortholog Qa-1b, natural killer T (NKT) cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and γδ T cells. Here, we review the current understanding of the roles of these unconventional T cells in tumor immunity and discuss why further studies into the immunotherapeutic potential of these cells is warranted.

Teaser

Godfrey et al. review the current understanding of the roles of unconventional T cells in tumor immunity, and discuss the therapeutic potential of harnessing the anti-tumor functions of cells characterized by repeated patterns of TCR usage in unrelated individuals.


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