Figure 2.

Multiple roles and representative mechanisms of action of MYC towards the adaptive and innate immune responses in cancers. MYC is a critical factor in manipulating immune-related event. The above left figure shows the influences of both the innate and adaptive immune cell responses in MYC-driven tumor. MYC overexpressed tumor cell is associated with reduced T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune responses; impaired macrophage and NK cells anti-tumor immune responses; recruited mast and neutrophil cells to promote angiogenesis; and alteration of the antigen-presenting molecules and the adhesion molecules on the cells surface. The middle section is a zoom in figure of the cells with normal MYC expression. This figure provides an overview of the immune cells and the adhesion & costimulatory molecules present in the MYC regulated condition. The right section of the figure has demonstrated the immune responses towards malignant cells with MYC overexpression. The MHC class I and class II molecules, adhesion and costimulatory molecules are decreased. MYC overexpression is associated with reduced cytotoxic T cell responses. MYC overexpression premotes the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, which mediates the cells to escape from the T cells recognition. Also, MYC overexpression reduces NK cell amounts, and induces the expression of immune checkpoint CD47, preventing macrophage (Mph)-induced phagocytosis.