The overall aim of the projects is to increase our knowledge about immunomodulatory effects of the AML disease and intensive antileukemic therapy (chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation) in order to contribute to the scientific basis for future immunotherapeutic strategies. We will not investigate leukemia-specific immune responses, but characterize the general immunosuppressive mechanisms caused by the disease and its treatment.
The immune system in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients seems to be affected initially by the disease itself and later by the chemotherapy. Both the cellular innate and adaptive immune systems in AML patients differ from healthy individuals, and numerous immunosuppressive factors have been detected in the AML cell microenvironment. Such leukemia-derived factors can affect T cells, e.g. induce apoptosis of T cells, inhibit T cell activation or antigen-initiated T cell proliferation and possibly also induce tolerogenic regulatory T (Treg) cells.