TY - JOUR
T1 - Current state-of-the-art on ganglioside-mediated immune modulation in the tumor microenvironment
AU - van der Haar Àvila, Irene
AU - Windhouwer, Britt
AU - van Vliet, Sandra J.
N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by the KWF Dutch Cancer Society, project grant number 12420, and COST Action CA18103: INNOGLY: INNOvation with GLYcans: new frontiers from synthesis to new biological targets. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Gangliosides are sialylated glycolipids, mainly present at the cell surface membrane, involved in a variety of cellular signaling events. During malignant transformation, the composition of these glycosphingolipids is altered, leading to structural and functional changes, which are often negatively correlated to patient survival. Cancer cells have the ability to shed gangliosides into the tumor microenvironment, where they have a strong impact on anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor progression. Since most ganglioside species show prominent immunosuppressive activities, they might be considered checkpoint molecules released to counteract ongoing immunosurveillance. In this review, we highlight the current state-of-the-art on the ganglioside-mediated immunomodulation, specified for the different immune cells and individual gangliosides. In addition, we address the dual role that certain gangliosides play in the tumor microenvironment. Even though some ganglioside species have been more extensively studied than others, they are proven to contribute to the defense mechanisms of the tumor and should be regarded as promising therapeutic targets for inclusion in future immunotherapy regimens.
AB - Gangliosides are sialylated glycolipids, mainly present at the cell surface membrane, involved in a variety of cellular signaling events. During malignant transformation, the composition of these glycosphingolipids is altered, leading to structural and functional changes, which are often negatively correlated to patient survival. Cancer cells have the ability to shed gangliosides into the tumor microenvironment, where they have a strong impact on anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor progression. Since most ganglioside species show prominent immunosuppressive activities, they might be considered checkpoint molecules released to counteract ongoing immunosurveillance. In this review, we highlight the current state-of-the-art on the ganglioside-mediated immunomodulation, specified for the different immune cells and individual gangliosides. In addition, we address the dual role that certain gangliosides play in the tumor microenvironment. Even though some ganglioside species have been more extensively studied than others, they are proven to contribute to the defense mechanisms of the tumor and should be regarded as promising therapeutic targets for inclusion in future immunotherapy regimens.
KW - Gangliosides
KW - Glycosylation
KW - Shedding
KW - Tumor immunity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160817798&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-023-10108-z
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-023-10108-z
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37266839
SN - 0167-7659
VL - 42
SP - 941
EP - 958
JO - Cancer and Metastasis Reviews
JF - Cancer and Metastasis Reviews
IS - 3
ER -