Immune evasion mechanism and its clinical application value in Hodgkin's lymphoma

Abstract

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a unique malignancy in which rare malignant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells are scattered in the inflammatory cell rich microenvironment. This extensive but ineffective inflammatory cell infiltrate indicates that HRS cells have developed mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. The immune escape mechanisms of HL provide prognostic biomarkers and opportunities to develop new drugs. The immune evasion mechanisms in Hodgkin lymphoma include a reduction of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) to affect first signal which is essential for T cell activation; an upregulation of negative co-stimulatory molecules to inhibit T cell activation; resistance to apoptosis or killing by expressing some molecules on HRS cells membrane; an immunosuppressive network formed by HRS cells regulating the microenvironment immune cells. Immune escape mechanisms of HRS cells provide new targets for the development of new drug and the new drug development strategies include drugs on HRS cells and drugs on microenvironment.