What Role Do Immune Checkpoints Play in Immune Escape?
Immune checkpoints are crucial regulators of the immune system, ensuring self-tolerance and preventing autoimmunity. However, cancer cells can hijack these immune checkpoint pathways to protect themselves from immune attack. Molecules such as Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) on T cells can be engaged by ligands like PD-L1 on tumor cells, leading to T cell inactivation and immune escape.
