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. 2018 May 7;19(5):1389. doi: 10.3390/ijms19051389

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Certain gut microbiota or soluble bacterial products can enhance the efficacy of CTLA-4 and PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Gut bacteria promote the activation and maturation of DCs (APC) most likely by secreting commensal-derived factors, then presenting tumor antigens to prime and support antitumor T cell (CTL, CD4+ T cells) responses. Gut bacteria can also activate memory Th1 cells through secreting commensal-derived factors, up-regulating IFN-γ and IL-12 production and down-regulating IL-10 expression to maintain immune activation. The activity and function of tumor-specific T cells can then be enhanced by anti-PD-L1 therapy or anti-CTLA-4 therapy.