Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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.
The full series with additional resources is available on PDB-101 pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/videos/immunology-and-cancer. The series is also available in Spanish: pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/videos/inmunologia-y-cancer
Video Guide
0:09 Primary signal in Killer and Helper T-cell activation
0:32 Secondary signal in T-cell activation
0:45 T-cells proliferation
1:11 Killer T-cell action – destruction of cancer cells
1:38 Helper T-cell action – activation of B-cells and Macrophages
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: 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
T-cell Receptor: 1TCR, 2HAC
CD8 Co-receptor: 1AKJ, AF_AFP01732F1
B7/CTLA-4 Complex: 1I8L, 1I85
B7: AF_AFP42081F1
CTLA-4: AF_AFP16410F1
Interleukin-2 Receptor: 2ERJ, AF_AFP01589F1, AF_AFP14784F1, AF_AFP31785F1
Perforin: 6SB3, 8A1D
Granzyme: 2ZGC
Antibody/MHC class I Antigen Complex: 3UO1
Immunoglobulin: 1IGT
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.
The full series with additional resources is available on PDB-101 pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/videos/immunology-and-cancer. The series is also available in Spanish: pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/videos/inmunologia-y-cancer
Video Guide
0:09 Primary signal in Killer and Helper T-cell activation
0:32 Secondary signal in T-cell activation
0:45 T-cells proliferation
1:11 Killer T-cell action – destruction of cancer cells
1:38 Helper T-cell action – activation of B-cells and Macrophages
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: 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
T-cell Receptor: 1TCR, 2HAC
CD8 Co-receptor: 1AKJ, AF_AFP01732F1
B7/CTLA-4 Complex: 1I8L, 1I85
B7: AF_AFP42081F1
CTLA-4: AF_AFP16410F1
Interleukin-2 Receptor: 2ERJ, AF_AFP01589F1, AF_AFP14784F1, AF_AFP31785F1
Perforin: 6SB3, 8A1D
Granzyme: 2ZGC
Antibody/MHC class I Antigen Complex: 3UO1
Immunoglobulin: 1IGT
