In addition to their role in activating other immune cells, CD4+ T cells may help control melanoma, according to new research in Science Immunology.
Researchers used microscopic live imaging to visualize the activities and interactions of CD4+ T cells with other cell types in the tumor microenvironment.
“Our in-depth study, using animal models, unraveled the complex biology of CD4+ T cells in melanoma and how they control cancer,” explains University of Melbourne’s Emma Bawden, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia, in a news release.
The detailed analysis revealed the genetic makeup, developmental states and functions of CD4+ T cells in melanoma, showing the potential of harnessing CD4+ T cells for future therapies against the skin cancer.
“While CD4+ T cells are often viewed as accessory cells regulating the function of other immune cells, our work shows they can work effectively on their own. Therefore, harnessing their potential therapeutically holds great promise for the development and improvement of current cancer immunotherapies,” adds study author University of Melbourne Thomas Gebhardt, a fellow at the Doherty Institute.
