IL-2 [77, 115] |
CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, DCs, mast cells |
↑ CD4+ T-cell differentiation, ↑ CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity, ↑ T-cell proliferation, ↑ NK-cell proliferation and activation |
IL-7 [116] |
Thymic stromal and mesenchymal cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, intestinal epithelial cells |
↑ T-cell, B-cell, and NK-cell proliferation |
IL-12 [117] |
DCs, phagocytes (monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils) |
↑ CTL and NK-cell cytotoxicity; ↑ IFN-γ secretion by T cells, NK cells, ILCs; ↑ antigen presentation |
IL-15 [118, 119] |
DCs, monocytes, epithelial cells |
↑ T-cell and NK-cell activation and proliferation |
IL-21 [120, 121] |
CD4+ T cells, NKT cells |
↑ CD8+ T-cell, NK-cell, and NKT-cell cytotoxicity |
IFN-α, IFN-β [122, 123] |
Lymphocytes (NK cells, B cells, and T cells), macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, osteoblasts |
↑ DC maturation and activation; ↑ MHC class I expression on tumor cells; ↑ NK-cell maturation and cytolytic effect |
IFN-γ [85] |
CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells, B cells, NKT cells, professional antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) |
↑ Cell surface MHC class I expression; ↑ T-cell, NK-cell, and NKT-cell migration into tumors |