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New Roles for Old Friends: Involvement of the Innate Immune System in Tumor Progression

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 17831

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; miRNAs; epigenomics; biomarkers; translational research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
2. Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Endometriosis Unit, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Av. Tres Cruces, 46014 Valencia, Spain
3. Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Av. Blasco Ibáñez, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; laparoscopy; minimally invasive surgery; robotic surgery; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 València, Spain
Interests: endometriosis; gynecological oncology; epigenetics; biomarkers; therapeutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The role of the immune system in the progression of human oncological conditions has been a candent topic of research in recent years. The tumor microenvironment (TME), composed of malignant cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and inflammatory immune cells represents an area of great immune activity and crosstalk between both adaptive and innate immune system cells and tumor cells.  The great attention initially paid to the adaptive immune system has permitted the comprehension of the lymphocyte – tumor cell interaction, the identification of immune checkpoints, and the development of targeted therapies (i.e., immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against PD-L1 and CTLA-4), which has supposed a milestone in the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma and melanoma patients, among others. Nevertheless, ICIs have shown a modest efficacy in some malignancies, including ovarian cancer.

Albeit out of the spotlight for a long time, the participation of the innate immune system (IIS) in the progression of human cancers is gaining increasing attention. On the one hand, the identification of several players of the IIS as tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and natural killer cells in the TME has spurred researchers to identify its contribution to the creation of a permissive environment for tumor development and metastasis formation. On the other hand, the discovery that the extracellular traps produced by several of these cell types (NETs, METs,…)  have a role in tumor metastasis formation, evasion of the immune system, and cancer-associated thrombosis has triggered the interest of worldwide research groups to understand the underlying involved mechanisms and to identify new therapeutic targets. Remarkably, it has also been identified that IIS cells can fuse with tumor cancer cells to form hybrid cells that represent an advantage in tumor progression.

In light of these advances, this Special Issue will expand our knowledge of current advances in the field of the innate immune system in oncology, focusing on technical advances and the identification of new roles of the involved cells in tumor progression.

Dr. Josep Marí-Alexandre
Dr. Juan Gilabert-Estellés
Prof. Dr. Martin Götte
Dr. Barbara McCormack
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • innate immune system
  • tumor progression
  • macrophages
  • neutrophils
  • myeloid-derived suppressor cells
  • natural killer cells

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 224 KiB  
Editorial
New Roles for Old Friends: Involvement of the Innate Immune System in Tumor Progression
by María Castaño, Eva González-Cantó, Cristina Aghababyan, Sarai Tomás-Pérez, Julia Oto, Raquel Herranz, Pilar Medina, Martin Götte, Bárbara Andrea Mc Cormack, Josep Marí-Alexandre and Juan Gilabert-Estellés
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7604; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087604 - 20 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1249
Abstract
The association between the immune system and tumor progression has attracted much interest in the research community in recent years [...] Full article

Review

Jump to: Editorial

29 pages, 2032 KiB  
Review
Immune-Mediated Neuropathies: Pathophysiology and Management
by Abhishek Shastri, Ahmad Al Aiyan, Uday Kishore and Maria Elena Farrugia
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7288; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087288 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 8765
Abstract
Dysfunction of the immune system can result in damage of the peripheral nervous system. The immunological mechanisms, which include macrophage infiltration, inflammation and proliferation of Schwann cells, result in variable degrees of demyelination and axonal degeneration. Aetiology is diverse and, in some cases, [...] Read more.
Dysfunction of the immune system can result in damage of the peripheral nervous system. The immunological mechanisms, which include macrophage infiltration, inflammation and proliferation of Schwann cells, result in variable degrees of demyelination and axonal degeneration. Aetiology is diverse and, in some cases, may be precipitated by infection. Various animal models have contributed and helped to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms in acute and chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathies (Guillain–Barre Syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, respectively). The presence of specific anti-glycoconjugate antibodies indicates an underlying process of molecular mimicry and sometimes assists in the classification of these disorders, which often merely supports the clinical diagnosis. Now, the electrophysiological presence of conduction blocks is another important factor in characterizing another subgroup of treatable motor neuropathies (multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block), which is distinct from Lewis–Sumner syndrome (multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy) in its response to treatment modalities as well as electrophysiological features. Furthermore, paraneoplastic neuropathies are also immune-mediated and are the result of an immune reaction to tumour cells that express onconeural antigens and mimic molecules expressed on the surface of neurons. The detection of specific paraneoplastic antibodies often assists the clinician in the investigation of an underlying, sometimes specific, malignancy. This review aims to discuss the immunological and pathophysiological mechanisms that are thought to be crucial in the aetiology of dysimmune neuropathies as well as their individual electrophysiological characteristics, their laboratory features and existing treatment options. Here, we aim to present a balance of discussion from these diverse angles that may be helpful in categorizing disease and establishing prognosis. Full article
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19 pages, 1361 KiB  
Review
The Roles of Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Gastric Mucosal Immunology and Oncogenesis of Gastric Cancer
by Yuhao Jiao, Zhiyu Yan and Aiming Yang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6652; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076652 - 2 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2468
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of innate immune cells that have garnered considerable attention due to their critical roles in regulating immunity and tissue homeostasis. They are particularly abundant in the gastrointestinal tract, where they have been shown to interact with [...] Read more.
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of innate immune cells that have garnered considerable attention due to their critical roles in regulating immunity and tissue homeostasis. They are particularly abundant in the gastrointestinal tract, where they have been shown to interact with commensal bacteria, pathogens, and other components of the local microenvironment to influence host immune responses to infection and oncogenesis. Their tissue-residency properties enable gastric ILCs a localized and rapid response to alert and stress, which indicates their key potential in regulating immunosurveillance. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the role of ILCs in the gastric mucosa, with a focus on their interactions with the gastric microbiota and Helicobacter pylori and their contributions to tissue homeostasis and inflammation. We also highlight recent findings on the involvement of ILCs in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and the implications of targeting ILCs as a therapeutic approach. Overall, this review provides an overview of the diverse functions of ILCs in gastric mucosa and highlights their potential as targets for future therapies for gastric cancer. Full article
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22 pages, 1724 KiB  
Review
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Cancer: Trapping Our Attention with Their Involvement in Ovarian Cancer
by María Castaño, Sarai Tomás-Pérez, Eva González-Cantó, Cristina Aghababyan, Andrea Mascarós-Martínez, Nuria Santonja, Alejandro Herreros-Pomares, Julia Oto, Pilar Medina, Martin Götte, Bárbara Andrea Mc Cormack, Josep Marí-Alexandre and Juan Gilabert-Estellés
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5995; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065995 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4506
Abstract
Neutrophils, the most abundant circulating leukocytes, play a well-known role in defense against pathogens through phagocytosis and degranulation. However, a new mechanism involving the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of DNA, histones, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, and elastase, among others, has been described. [...] Read more.
Neutrophils, the most abundant circulating leukocytes, play a well-known role in defense against pathogens through phagocytosis and degranulation. However, a new mechanism involving the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) composed of DNA, histones, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, and elastase, among others, has been described. The so-called NETosis process can occur through three different mechanisms: suicidal, vital, and mitochondrial NETosis. Apart from their role in immune defense, neutrophils and NETs have been involved in physiopathological conditions, highlighting immunothrombosis and cancer. Notably, neutrophils can either promote or inhibit tumor growth in the tumor microenvironment depending on cytokine signaling and epigenetic modifications. Several neutrophils’ pro-tumor strategies involving NETs have been documented, including pre-metastatic niche formation, increased survival, inhibition of the immune response, and resistance to oncologic therapies. In this review, we focus on ovarian cancer (OC), which remains the second most incidental but the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, partly due to the presence of metastasis, often omental, at diagnosis and the resistance to treatment. We deepen the state-of-the-art on the participation of NETs in OC metastasis establishment and progression and their involvement in resistance to chemo-, immuno-, and radiotherapies. Finally, we review the current literature on NETs in OC as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers, and their contribution to disease progression at early and advanced stages. The panoramic view provided in this article might pave the way for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of cancer patients and, specifically, OC patients. Full article
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