Could Protein Provide Natural Immune Boost Against Tumors?

A recent study looks at how protein may serve as a natural boost for the immune system to fight against tumors.

According to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, they found that boosters can stimulate regular production of antibiotics caused by foreign substances in the body, including bacteria, foreign blood cells, toxins, and the cells of transplanted organs.

"Different molecular adjuvants, such as cytokines, are being studied as a way to increase the efficacy of vaccines," said David Weiner, Ph.D., professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the university, via a press release. "The development of DNA-based vaccines with cytokine adjuvants has emerged as particularly promising for inducing antiviral and anti-tumor, cell-mediated immune responses."

Weiner and Daniel Villarrel, a graduate student in the Weiner lab, and colleagues, found that the protein IL-33 boosts the immune system of a human papilloma virus animal model of cancer. This small protein that is a cytokine signals immune cells such as T cells to travel to a site of infection or injury.

Researchers found the this protein can enhance the response of memory T cells--long-lived cells that watch over and even protect the body from infections and certain cancers, particularly when given a DNA vaccine compared to a vaccine without IL-33. Researchers also found that the IL-33 vaccine supported an immunological response in both CD4 helper T cells and CD8 killer T cells, according to background information from the study. What's so incredible about these responses is that the DNA vaccines helped drive immune responses in the subject animals that killed their tumor cells.

"Our results support the further study and possible development of IL-33 as adjuvants in vaccinations against pathogens, including in the context of antitumor immunotherapy," Weiner said, via the release.

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Cancer Research.