This three-part series explores the human immune response to cancer focusing on cellular and molecular details of the process. Part 1 showcases the process of antigen harvesting by dendritic cells and later the T-cell maturation process. Part 2 focuses on T-cell activation and demonstrates the mechanisms by which the immune system destroys the cancer cells. Part 3 focuses on the immune checkpoints - a mechanism by which the immune system terminates the immune response and later describes the immune checkpoint therapies used in cancer treatment.

Video Guide
0:06 Immune system introduction
0:20 Dendritic cell introduction
0:40 Antigen/neoantigen harvesting and processing by dendritic cells
1:05 Major Histocompatibility Complex I and II introduction
1:49 T-cells maturation in the thymus and generation of T-cell receptor
2:32 T-cell receptor testing for “self” antigens and elimination
2:50 T-cell differentiation into Helper and Killer types (CD4/CD8 Co receptors)
3:19 Initial steps in T-cell activation

Video Credits
Story by
Ethan Cartagena (Spring 2022 RCSB PDB Intern)

Story Support
Steven C. Almo (Albert Einstein College of Medicine), Stephen K. Burley (RCSB PDB), Paul Craig (RIT), David Goodsell (RCSB PDB), and Maria Voigt (RCSB PDB)

Animation and Video Editing
Maria Voigt (RCSB PDB)

Narration
Emma Chavez (Summer 2022 RCSB PDB Intern)

Sounds
Pixabay.com

Learn more about the molecular biology of Cancer on PDB-101: https://pdb101.rcsb.org/browse/cancer

This video features experimental structures from the Protein Data Bank along with Computed Structure Models from the AlphaFold DB. Visit rcsb.org to explore these structures in 3D.

MHC class I: 1HSA, AF_AFP01889F1
MHC class II: 1DLH, AF_AFP01903F1, AF_AFP01911F1
T-cell receptor: 1TCR, 2HAC
CD8 Co-receptor: 1AKJ, AF_AFP01732F1
CD4 Co-receptor: 1JL4, AF_AFP01730F1
RAG1/2 Recombinase: 4WWX
Serine Protease: 4Q80