Focus on T cell exhaustion: new advances in traditional Chinese medicine in infection and cancer

Chinese Medicine

Review

Xiaoyu Hu¹  Liyuan Hao²  Jiali Deng²  Junli Zhang²  Shenghao Li² 

[1] Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-Er-Qiao Road, 610072, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China;Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-Er-Qiao Road, 610072, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China;Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 37 Shi-Er-Qiao Road, 610075, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: T cell exhaustion;    Traditional Chinese medicine;    Infection;    Cancer;    Immune checkpoint inhibitors;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13020-023-00785-x

 received in 2023-03-27, accepted in 2023-06-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

In chronic infections and cancers, T lymphocytes (T cells) are exposed to persistent antigen or inflammatory signals. The condition is often associated with a decline in T-cell function: a state called “exhaustion”. T cell exhaustion is a state of T cell dysfunction characterized by increased expression of a series of inhibitory receptors (IRs), decreased effector function, and decreased cytokine secretion, accompanied by transcriptional and epigenetic changes and metabolic defects. The rise of immunotherapy, particularly the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has dramatically changed the clinical treatment paradigm for patients. However, its low response rate, single target and high immunotoxicity limit its clinical application. The multiple immunomodulatory potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a new direction for improving the treatment of T cell exhaustion. Here, we review recent advances that have provided a clearer molecular understanding of T cell exhaustion, revealing the characteristics and causes of T cell exhaustion in persistent infections and cancers. In addition, this paper summarizes recent advances in improving T cell exhaustion in infectious diseases and cancer with the aim of providing a comprehensive and valuable source of information on TCM as an experimental study and their role in collaboration with ICIs therapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

41116_2023_37_Article_IEq151.gif

41116_2023_37_Article_IEq132.gif

41116_2023_37_Article_IEq99.gif