Chemokine-dependent B cell–T cell interactions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma – targets for therapeutic intervention?

Abstract

Introduction: Chemokines and their receptors play essential roles in the development, maintenance and proper functioning of the immune system. B cell–T cell interactions are modulated by chemokines. In B cell malignancies, these interactions may have tumor-promoting consequences.

Areas covered: This review summarizes physiological B cell–T cell interactions and discusses their pathological role in the onset and progression of B cell malignancies with a special focus on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Experimental data on chemokine-guided B cell-T cell actions in B cell malignancies from murine models as well as in vitro data are summarized and their potential as future therapeutic targets is critically discussed.

Expert opinion: Direct or indirect targeting of chemokine receptors involved in localization and T-cell-dependent activation of B lymphocytes can provide strong synergisms with conventional or immunomodulatory therapies by disrupting the microenvironmental conditions necessary for survival and proliferation of malignant B lymphocytes. However, further knowledge of these interactions between B and T cells is needed.

Keywords::

• chemokine receptors
• CLL
• multiple myeloma
• T cells
• tumor microenvironment

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank J P Hofbauer for critical discussion of the manuscript. Because of the extent and complexity of the field we could not discuss many interesting studies and we apologize to those whose excellent work could not be cited due to space limitations.

Notes

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