Fig. 7: The proposed mechanism of anti-tumor and immune responses induced by CSPM@CpG in combination with aPD-L1 therapy. | Communications Biology

Fig. 7: The proposed mechanism of anti-tumor and immune responses induced by CSPM@CpG in combination with aPD-L1 therapy.

From: A Cu9S5 nanoparticle-based CpG delivery system for synergistic photothermal-, photodynamic- and immunotherapy

Fig. 7

Briefly, CSPM@CpG got through the vessel and arrived at tumor microenvironment. Then CpG are specifically identified by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in plasmacytoid dendritic cells and thus stimulate an immune response to produce helper T cell 1 (Th1) and a pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-12. IL-12 could promote maturity of CTLs and infiltration in tumor site. At the same time, activated CTLs could secrete IFN-γ to kill tumor cells. However, tumor cells could induce CTLs exhaustion through PD-L1 signaling pathway for immune evasion, which could be effectively blockaded by aPD-L1 in turn. So PD-L1 antibody could bind with PD-L1 and remove immunosuppression to enhance immunotherapy. At the same time, the nanocomposite with efficient anti-tumor efficiency could effectively release lots of heat and ROS under 650 nm laser and 808 nm laser irradiation, causing apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells.

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