Subverting Treg-mediated protection for tumors

T_reg cells present a conundrum for cancer researchers-although these cells can suppress the antitumor immune response, depleting them can trigger severe inflammation and autoimmunity. Now, a team of researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has uncoupled these effects by targeting neuropilin 1-semaphorin 4A signaling, a pathway active in tumor-associated T_reg cells.¹

The results suggest that disrupting the neuropilin 1 (NRP1)-semaphorin 4A (SEMA4A) signaling axis could be used to treat tumors that respond poorly to immunotherapies designed to boost the antitumor immune response...