The Roles of CD4+ T Cells in Tumor Immunity

Abstract EN

Activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells has long been regarded as a major antitumor mechanism of the immune system.

Emerging evidence suggests that CD4+ T cells are required for the generation and maintenance of effective CD8+ cytotoxic and memory T cells, a phenomenon known as CD4+ T-cell help.

CD4+ T-cell help facilitates the optimal expansion, trafficking, and effector function of CD8+ T cells, thereby enhancing tumor destruction.

In addition, a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (TRegs), effectively hampers anti-tumor immune responses, which has been proposed to be one of the major tumor immune evasion mechanisms.

Here, we review recent advances in deciphering how anti-tumor immune responses are orchestrated by CD4+ T cells.

We will also discuss the immunotherapeutic potential of CD4+ T-cell manipulation in anti-tumor immune response.