Polymorphisms in a receptor called CD32 influence the response to antibody therapy in cancer

Clinical reports show that polymorphisms in a receptor called CD32 influence the response to antibody therapy in cancer.

In a paper appearing online in advance of print publication of the October 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Adam Boruchov and colleagues from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center dissect the contributions of CD32 isoforms in human dendritic cell (DC) activation and function.

The authors show that the ligation of CD32a induces DC maturation, exemplified by upregulation of maturation markers, release of specific cytokines and heightened T cell stimulatory capacity. In contrast, ligation of CD32b inhibits DC activation. These data uncover the differential contributions of CD32 isoforms and the potential role they may play in the induction of tolerance versus autoimmunity.

Further, the researchers show that intravenous immune globulin selectively shifts Fc-gamma receptor expression to a CD32b-dominated profile, which provides a mechanism to explain globulin's anti-inflammatory properties in humans. The findings also help account for results reported by some investigators when using mouse IgG with human dendritic cells. These findings have implications for optimizing the efficacy of therapeutic antibodies and suggest novel strategies for targeting antigens to the activating or inhibitory CD32 expressed on human Dcs to generate either antigen-specific immunity or tolerance.