AUTHOR=D’Silva Nisha J. , Pandiyan Pushpa TITLE=Neuroimmune cell interactions and chronic infections in oral cancers JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=11 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1432398 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1432398 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=

Inflammation is a process that is associated with the activation of distal immunosuppressive pathways that have evolved to restore homeostasis and prevent excessive tissue destruction. However, long-term immunosuppression resulting from systemic and local inflammation that may stem from dysbiosis, infections, or aging poses a higher risk for cancers. Cancer incidence and progression dramatically increase with chronic infections including HIV infection. Thus, studies on pro-tumorigenic effects of microbial stimulants from resident microbiota and infections in the context of inflammation are needed and underway. Here, we discuss chronic infections and potential neuro-immune interactions that could establish immunomodulatory programs permissive for tumor growth and progression.