Activation of dendritic cells by targeted DNA: a potential addition to the armamentarium for anti-cancer immunotherapy

Marlene Fyrstenberg Laursen, Emil Kofod-Olsen, Ralf Agger

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in immunotherapy against cancer. Specifically, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the field. However, many patients are unable to benefit significantly from this treatment option. One of the major reasons for this is most likely the absence of an adequate tumor-specific T cell response in these patients. A way to circumvent this problem might be to combine immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment with new strategies to activate tumor-specific T cells. One such strategy could be to activate and mature dendritic cells in situ. Dendritic cells carry an array of external and internal pattern recognition receptors that induce cell activation and maturation when interacting with their corresponding damage-associated or pathogen-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs or PAMPs). Targeting such molecular patterns directly to dendritic cells might be a way to evoke stronger immune responses. Here, we review our recent findings using antibody-targeted DNA. We summarize the results from our experiments showing that dendritic cells can be actively targeted in vivo through the αXβ2 integrin subunit CD11c, and that DNA delivered through this receptor in vitro leads to maturation of dendritic cells via the cytosolic cGAS/STING DNA-sensing pathway.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Volume68
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1875-1880
Number of pages6
ISSN0340-7004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Dendritic cells
  • PIVAC 18
  • STING

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