Fig. 1

The role of CD5 in tumor immunology and therapeutic chances. a CD5⁺ cDC2 play an important role in tumor immunology. (upper left) Under influence of IL-6, hematopoietic progenitor cells differentiate into CD5⁺ cDC2. (upper right) CD5⁺ cDC2 induce strong proliferation of CD5^high T cells, while proliferation induced by CD5^- cDC2 is less effective and limited to CD5^low T cells. (lower left) Successful T-cell-induced tumor cell elimination depends on CD5 expression on both cDC2 and T cells. Beside interaction of CD5⁺ cDC2 with CD5 on T cells, yet unidentified receptors might be involved, too. (lower right) Anti-PD-1 therapy is most effective when CD5⁺ cDC2 are present in the TME and can induce activation and proliferation of CD5⁺ T cells. b CD5’s role in tumor immunology imply therapeutic chances. (upper left) The use of cross-linking antibodies could enhance antitumor response. (upper right) CD5 could be used for the selection of DCs instead of CD14 to improve T cell activating capacity. (lower left) Biopsy screening for CD5⁺ cDC2 might guide therapeutic decisions for immunotherapy. (lower right) In the autoimmune disease situation, blocking CD5 could regulate immune activity. cDC2 conventional dendritic cells 2, IL-6 interleukin 6, MHC major histocompatibility complex, PD-1 programmed cell death protein 1, TCR T cell receptor. Created with BioRender.com