The body’s immune response in the induction and progression of cancer of the cervix uteri: possible mechanisms

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) that is a main cause of cancer of the cervix uteri (CCU) has immunogenic properties, i.e. an abilityto activate antiviral immunity responses as adaptive HPV-specific and innate ones. For this reason, despite multiple mechanisms generated by HPV to avoid immunity responses, the human body can eliminate the infection in most cases. At the same time, CCU results from the combined influence of many factors of different nature, among which the factors that impair the normal course of an immune response are of vital importance.This review describes the major factors and mechanisms, which promote the establishment of persistent HPV infection and the progression of dysplasia to cancer, on the one hand, and allow the tumor cells in CCU to restrict the body’s immune reactions, on the other Immune disorders induced by the virus and/or tumor cells are considered at both local and systemic levels. Particular emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms that can change the population composition and functional activity of leukocytes and the cytokine profile of cells and can form the tumor suppressor microenvironment.

Keywords

• human papillomavirus
• cancer of the cervix uteri
• immunosuppression
• tolerance
• cytotoxic t cells
• helper t cells
• regulatoryt cells