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1
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Wang M, Krueger JB, Gilkey AK, Stelljes EM, Kluesner MG, Pomeroy EJ, Skeate JG, Slipek NJ, Lahr WS, Claudio Vázquez PN, Zhao Y, Bell JB, Clement K, Eaton EJ, Laoharawee K, Chang JW, Webber BR, Moriarity BS. Precision enhancement of CAR-NK cells through non-viral engineering and highly multiplexed base editing. J Immunother Cancer 2025; 13:e009560. [PMID: 40341025 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 05/10/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural killer (NK) cells' unique ability to kill transformed cells expressing stress ligands or lacking major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) has prompted their development for immunotherapy. However, NK cells have demonstrated only moderate responses against cancer in clinical trials. METHODS Advanced genome engineering may thus be used to unlock their full potential. Multiplex genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 base editors (BEs) has been used to enhance T cell function and has already entered clinical trials but has not been reported in human NK cells. Here, we report the first application of BE in primary NK cells to achieve both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations. RESULTS We observed highly efficient single and multiplex base editing, resulting in significantly enhanced NK cell function in vitro and in vivo. Next, we combined multiplex BE with non-viral TcBuster transposon-based integration to generate interleukin-15 armored CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells with significantly improved functionality in a highly suppressive model of Burkitt's lymphoma both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS The use of concomitant non-viral transposon engineering with multiplex base editing thus represents a highly versatile and efficient platform to generate CAR-NK products for cell-based immunotherapy and affords the flexibility to tailor multiple gene edits to maximize the effectiveness of the therapy for the cancer type being treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joshua B Krueger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Alexandria K Gilkey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Erin M Stelljes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mitchell G Kluesner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph G Skeate
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nicholas J Slipek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Walker S Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Patricia N Claudio Vázquez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yueting Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jason B Bell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kendell Clement
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ella J Eaton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kanut Laoharawee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jae-Woong Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Beau R Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Wang M, Krueger JB, Gilkey AK, Stelljes EM, Kluesner MG, Pomeroy EJ, Skeate JG, Slipek NJ, Lahr WS, Vázquez PNC, Zhao Y, Eaton EJ, Laoharawee K, Webber BR, Moriarity BS. Precision Enhancement of CAR-NK Cells through Non-Viral Engineering and Highly Multiplexed Base Editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.582637. [PMID: 38496503 PMCID: PMC10942345 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.582637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells' unique ability to kill transformed cells expressing stress ligands or lacking major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) has prompted their development for immunotherapy. However, NK cells have demonstrated only moderate responses against cancer in clinical trials and likely require advanced genome engineering to reach their full potential as a cancer therapeutic. Multiplex genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 base editors (BE) has been used to enhance T cell function and has already entered clinical trials but has not been reported in human NK cells. Here, we report the first application of BE in primary NK cells to achieve both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations. We observed highly efficient single and multiplex base editing, resulting in significantly enhanced NK cell function. Next, we combined multiplex BE with non-viral TcBuster transposon-based integration to generate IL-15 armored CD19 CAR-NK cells with significantly improved functionality in a highly suppressive model of Burkitt's lymphoma both in vitro and in vivo. The use of concomitant non-viral transposon engineering with multiplex base editing thus represents a highly versatile and efficient platform to generate CAR-NK products for cell-based immunotherapy and affords the flexibility to tailor multiple gene edits to maximize the effectiveness of the therapy for the cancer type being treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joshua B Krueger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexandria K Gilkey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erin M Stelljes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mitchell G Kluesner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joseph G Skeate
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nicholas J Slipek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Walker S Lahr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Patricia N Claudio Vázquez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Yueting Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ella J Eaton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kanut Laoharawee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Beau R Webber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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3
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Tonetti CR, de Souza-Araújo CN, Yoshida A, da Silva RF, Alves PCM, Mazzola TN, Derchain S, Fernandes LGR, Guimarães F. Ovarian Cancer-Associated Ascites Have High Proportions of Cytokine-Responsive CD56bright NK Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071702. [PMID: 34359872 PMCID: PMC8306021 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with serous histotype as the most prevalent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Peritoneal ascites is a frequent comorbidity in advanced EOC. EOC-associated ascites provide a reliable sampling source for studying lymphocytes directly from tumor environment. Herein, we carried out flow cytometry-based analysis to readdress issues on NK and T lymphocyte subsets in women with advanced EOC, additionally evaluating phenotypic modulation of their intracellular pathways involved in interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-15 signaling. Results depicted ascites as an inflammatory and immunosuppressive environment, presenting significantly (p < 0.0001) higher amounts of IL-6 and IL-10 than in the patients' blood, as well as significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of checkpoint inhibitory receptors (programmed death protein-1, PD-1) and ectonucleotidase (CD39) on T lymphocytes. However, NK lymphocytes from EOC-associated ascites showed higher (p < 0.05) pS6 phosphorylation compared with NK from blood. Additionally, in vitro treatment of lymphocytes with IL-2 or IL-15 elicited significantly (p < 0.001) phosphorylation of the STAT5 protein in NK, CD3 and CD8 lymphocytes, both from blood and ascites. EOC-associated ascites had a significantly (p < 0.0001) higher proportion of NK CD56bright lymphocytes than blood, which, in addition, were more responsive (p < 0.05) to stimulation by IL-2 than CD56dim NK. EOC-associated ascites allow studies on lymphocyte phenotype modulation in the tumor environment, where inflammatory profile contrasts with the presence of immunosuppressive elements and development of cellular self-regulating mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia Rodrigues Tonetti
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Caroline Natânia de Souza-Araújo
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Adriana Yoshida
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
| | - Rodrigo Fernandes da Silva
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Paulo César Martins Alves
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (P.C.M.A.); (T.N.M.)
| | - Taís Nitsch Mazzola
- Center for Investigation in Pediatrics, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (P.C.M.A.); (T.N.M.)
| | - Sophie Derchain
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
| | - Luís Gustavo Romani Fernandes
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
| | - Fernando Guimarães
- School of Medicine Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo-126, Campinas CEP 13083-887, SP, Brazil; (C.R.T.); (C.N.d.S.-A.); (R.F.d.S.); (S.D.); (L.G.R.F.)
- Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM), Women’s Hospital José Aristodemo Pinotti, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming-101, Campinas CEP 13083-881, SP, Brazil;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-(19)-35219462
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4
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Bagheri Y, Barati A, Aghebati-Maleki A, Aghebati-Maleki L, Yousefi M. Current progress in cancer immunotherapy based on natural killer cells. Cell Biol Int 2020; 45:2-17. [PMID: 32910474 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
One of the most common diseases in the present era is cancer. The common treatment methods used to control cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Despite progress in the treatment of cancers, there still is no definite therapeutic approach. Among the currently proposed strategies, immunotherapy is a new approach that can provide better outcomes compared with existing therapies. Employing natural killer (NK) cells is one of the means of immunotherapy. As innate lymphocytes, NK cells are capable of rapidly responding to cancer cells without being sensitized or restricted to the cognate antigen in advance, as compared to T cells that are tumor antigen-specific. Latest insights into the biology of NK cells have clarified the underlying molecular mechanisms of NK cell maturation and differentiation, as well as controlling their effector functions through the investigation of the ligands and receptors engaged in recognizing cancer cells by NK cells. Elucidating the fact that NK cells recognize cancer cells could similarly show the mechanism through which cancer cells possibly avoid NK cell-dependent immune surveillance. Additionally, the expectations for novel immunotherapies by targeting NK cells have increased through the latest clinical outcomes of T-cell-targeted cancer immunotherapy. For this emerging method, researchers are still attempting to develop protocols for conferring the best proliferation and expansion medium, activation pathways, utilization dosage, transferring methods, as well as reducing possible side effects in cancer therapy. This study reviews the NK cells, their proliferation and expansion methods, and their recent applications in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasin Bagheri
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Barati
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebati-Maleki
- Student's Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leili Aghebati-Maleki
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Caruso S, De Angelis B, Carlomagno S, Del Bufalo F, Sivori S, Locatelli F, Quintarelli C. NK cells as adoptive cellular therapy for hematological malignancies: Advantages and hurdles. Semin Hematol 2020; 57:175-184. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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6
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Morgan MA, Büning H, Sauer M, Schambach A. Use of Cell and Genome Modification Technologies to Generate Improved "Off-the-Shelf" CAR T and CAR NK Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1965. [PMID: 32903482 PMCID: PMC7438733 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The broad success of adoptive immunotherapy to treat human cancer has resulted in a paradigm shift in modern medicine. Modification of autologous and allogenic immune cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) designed to target specific antigens on tumor cells has led to production of CAR T and CAR NK cell therapies, which are ever more commonly introduced into cancer patient treatment protocols. While allogenic T cells may offer advantages such as improved anti-tumor activity, they also carry the risk of adverse reactions like graft-versus-host disease. This risk can be mitigated by use of autologous immune cells, however, the time needed for T and/or NK cell isolation, modification and expansion may be too long for some patients. Thus, there is an urgent need for strategies to robustly produce “off-the-shelf” CAR T and CAR NK cells, which could be used as a bridging therapy between cancer diagnosis or relapse and allogeneic transplantation. Advances in genome modification technologies have accelerated the generation of designer cell therapy products, including development of “off-the-shelf” CAR T cells for cancer immunotherapy. The feasibility and safety of such approaches is currently tested in clinical trials. This review will describe cell sources for CAR-based therapies, provide background of current genome editing techniques and the applicability of these approaches for generation of universal “off-the-shelf” CAR T and NK cell therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martin Sauer
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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7
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Franks SE, Wolfson B, Hodge JW. Natural Born Killers: NK Cells in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2131. [PMID: 32751977 PMCID: PMC7465121 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular therapy has emerged as an attractive option for the treatment of cancer, and adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing T cells has gained FDA approval in hematologic malignancy. However, limited efficacy was observed using CAR-T therapy in solid tumors. Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for tumor surveillance and exhibit potent killing capacity of aberrant cells in an antigen-independent manner. Adoptive transfer of unmodified allogeneic or autologous NK cells has shown limited clinical benefit due to factors including low cell number, low cytotoxicity and failure to migrate to tumor sites. To address these problems, immortalized and autologous NK cells have been genetically engineered to express high affinity receptors (CD16), CARs directed against surface proteins (PD-L1, CD19, Her2, etc.) and endogenous cytokines (IL-2 and IL-15) that are crucial for NK cell survival and cytotoxicity, with positive outcomes reported by several groups both preclinically and clinically. With a multitude of NK cell-based therapies currently in clinic trials, it is likely they will play a crucial role in next-generation cell therapy-based treatment. In this review, we will highlight the recent advances and limitations of allogeneic, autologous and genetically enhanced NK cells used in adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Elizabeth Franks
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Benjamin Wolfson
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - James W Hodge
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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In Vitro Killing of Colorectal Carcinoma Cells by Autologous Activated NK Cells is Boosted by Anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-induced ADCC Regardless of RAS Mutation Status. J Immunother 2019; 41:190-200. [PMID: 29293164 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients is associated with a poor prognosis and significant morbidity. Moreover, targeted therapies such as anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have no effect in metastatic patients with tumors harboring a mutation in the RAS gene. The failure of conventional treatment to improve outcomes in mCRC patients has prompted the development of adoptive immunotherapy approaches including natural killer (NK)-based therapies. In this study, after confirmation that patients' NK cells were not impaired in their cytotoxic activity, evaluated against long-term tumor cell lines, we evaluated their interactions with autologous mCRC cells. Molecular and phenotypical evaluation of mCRC cells, expanded in vitro from liver metastasis, showed that they expressed high levels of polio virus receptor and Nectin-2, whereas UL16-binding proteins were less expressed in all tumor samples evaluated. Two different patterns of MICA/B and HLA class I expression on the membrane of mCRC were documented; approximately half of mCRC patients expressed high levels of these molecules on the membrane surface, whereas, in the remaining, very low levels were documented. Resting NK cells were unable to display sizeable levels of cytotoxic activity against mCRC cells, whereas their cytotoxic activity was enhanced after overnight or 5-day incubation with IL-2 or IL-15. The susceptibility of NK-mediated mCRC lysis was further significantly enhanced after coating with cetuximab, irrespective of their RAS mutation and HLA class I expression. These data open perspectives for combined NK-based immunotherapy with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies in a cohort of mCRC patients with a poor prognosis refractory to conventional therapies.
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9
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Erokhina SA, Streltsova MA, Kanevskiy LM, Telford WG, Sapozhnikov AM, Kovalenko EI. HLA-DR + NK cells are mostly characterized by less mature phenotype and high functional activity. Immunol Cell Biol 2018; 96:212-228. [PMID: 29363179 PMCID: PMC8063572 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.1032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
NK cells change their phenotype and functional characteristics during activation. In this work, we searched for a relationship of HLA-DR expression with differentiation stages and functional activity of NK cells ex vivo and stimulated in vitro with IL-2 challenged with gene modified feeder K562 cells expressing membrane-bound IL-21 (K562-mbIL21). This stimulation technique has been described for NK cell expansion in clinical use. We have observed that HLA-DR expression in freshly isolated circulating NK cells was mostly associated with less differentiated CD56bright CD57- cells, although in some individuals it could also be found in terminally differentiated CD57+ cells. Ex vivo HLA-DR+ NK cells possessed better capacity to produce IFN-γ in response to cytokine stimulation compared to their HLA-DR- counterparts. In vitro activation with IL-2 and K562-mbIL21 induces an increase in HLA-DR-positive NK cell proportion, again mostly among CD56bright CD57- NK cells. This happened in particular due to appearance of HLA-DR+ expression de novo in HLA-DR-negative cells. Acquired in vitro HLA-DR expression was associated with NK cell proliferation activity, more intense cytokine-induced IFN-γ production, increased degranulation toward feeder cells, and higher expression of CD86 and NKG2D. Thus, stimulation with IL-2/K562-mbIL21 causes a significant phenotype and functional shift during NK cell activation and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofya A Erokhina
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Department of Immunology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Streltsova
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Department of Immunology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Leonid M Kanevskiy
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Department of Immunology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - William G Telford
- Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander M Sapozhnikov
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Department of Immunology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena I Kovalenko
- Laboratory of Cell Interactions, Department of Immunology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Chabannon C, Mfarrej B, Guia S, Ugolini S, Devillier R, Blaise D, Vivier E, Calmels B. Manufacturing Natural Killer Cells as Medicinal Products. Front Immunol 2016; 7:504. [PMID: 27895646 PMCID: PMC5108783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells (ILC) with cytotoxic and regulatory properties. Their functions are tightly regulated by an array of inhibitory and activating receptors, and their mechanisms of activation strongly differ from antigen recognition in the context of human leukocyte antigen presentation as needed for T-cell activation. NK cells thus offer unique opportunities for new and improved therapeutic manipulation, either in vivo or in vitro, in a variety of human diseases, including cancers. NK cell activity can possibly be modulated in vivo through direct or indirect actions exerted by small molecules or monoclonal antibodies. NK cells can also be adoptively transferred following more or less substantial modifications through cell and gene manufacturing, in order to empower them with new or improved functions and ensure their controlled persistence and activity in the recipient. In the present review, we will focus on the technological and regulatory challenges of NK cell manufacturing and discuss conditions in which these innovative cellular therapies can be brought to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Chabannon
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Bechara Mfarrej
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Sophie Guia
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille , France
| | - Sophie Ugolini
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University , Marseille , France
| | - Raynier Devillier
- CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM , Marseille , France
| | - Didier Blaise
- CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM , Marseille , France
| | - Eric Vivier
- UM2, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Hôpital de la Conception, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Boris Calmels
- CBT-1409: INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, AP-HM, Marseille, France; CRCM: INSERM, CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
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11
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IL-15 activates mTOR and primes stress-activated gene expression leading to prolonged antitumor capacity of NK cells. Blood 2016; 128:1475-89. [PMID: 27465917 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-02-698027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of hematological malignancies by adoptive transfer of activated natural killer (NK) cells is limited by poor postinfusion persistence. We compared the ability of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 to sustain human NK-cell functions following cytokine withdrawal to model postinfusion performance. In contrast to IL-2, IL-15 mediated stronger signaling through the IL-2/15 receptor complex and provided cell function advantages. Genome-wide analysis of cytosolic and polysome-associated messenger RNA (mRNA) revealed not only cytokine-dependent differential mRNA levels and translation during cytokine activation but also that most gene expression differences were primed by IL-15 and only manifested after cytokine withdrawal. IL-15 augmented mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which correlated with increased expression of genes related to cell metabolism and respiration. Consistently, mTOR inhibition abrogated IL-15-induced cell function advantages. Moreover, mTOR-independent STAT-5 signaling contributed to improved NK-cell function during cytokine activation but not following cytokine withdrawal. The superior performance of IL-15-stimulated NK cells was also observed using a clinically applicable protocol for NK-cell expansion in vitro and in vivo. Finally, expression of IL-15 correlated with cytolytic immune functions in patients with B-cell lymphoma and favorable clinical outcome. These findings highlight the importance of mTOR-regulated metabolic processes for immune cell functions and argue for implementation of IL-15 in adoptive NK-cell cancer therapy.
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12
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Suck G, Linn YC, Tonn T. Natural Killer Cells for Therapy of Leukemia. Transfus Med Hemother 2016; 43:89-95. [PMID: 27226791 DOI: 10.1159/000445325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical application of natural killer (NK) cells against leukemia is an area of intense investigation. In human leukocyte antigen-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT), alloreactive NK cells exert powerful anti-leukemic activity in preventing relapse in the absence of graft-versus-host disease, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia patients. Adoptive transfer of donor NK cells post-HSCT or in non-transplant scenarios may be superior to the currently widely used unmanipulated donor lymphocyte infusion. This concept could be further improved through transfusion of activated NK cells. Significant progress has been made in good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant large-scale production of stimulated effectors. However, inherent limitations remain. These include differing yields and compositions of the end-product due to donor variability and inefficient means for cryopreservation. Moreover, the impact of the various novel activation strategies on NK cell biology and in vivo behavior are barely understood. In contrast, reproduction of the third-party NK-92 drug from a cryostored GMP-compliant master cell bank is straightforward and efficient. Safety for the application of this highly cytotoxic cell line was demonstrated in first clinical trials. This novel 'off-the-shelf' product could become a treatment option for a broad patient population. For specific tumor targeting chimeric-antigen-receptor-engineered NK-92 cells have been designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garnet Suck
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine Berlin, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yeh Ching Linn
- Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Torsten Tonn
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine Dresden, German Red Cross Blood Donation Service North-East, Dresden, Germany; Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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13
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Selection and expansion of natural killer cells for NK cell-based immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2016; 65:477-84. [PMID: 26810567 PMCID: PMC4826432 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-016-1792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have been used in several clinical trials as adaptive immunotherapy. The low numbers of these cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) have resulted in various approaches to preferentially expand primary NK cells from PBMC. While some clinical trials have used the addition of interleukin 2 (IL-2) to co-stimulate the expansion of purified NK cells from allogeneic donors, recent studies have shown promising results in achieving in vitro expansion of NK cells to large numbers for adoptive immunotherapy. NK cell expansion requires multiple cell signals for survival, proliferation and activation. Thus, expansion strategies have been focused either to substitute these factors using autologous feeder cells or to use genetically modified allogeneic feeder cells. Recent developments in the clinical use of genetically modified NK cell lines with chimeric antigen receptors, the development of expansion protocols for the clinical use of NK cell from human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are challenging improvements for NK cell-based immunotherapy. Transfer of several of these protocols to clinical-grade production of NK cells necessitates adaptation of good manufacturing practice conditions, and the development of freezing conditions to establish NK cell stocks will require some effort and, however, should enhance the therapeutic options of NK cells in clinical medicine.
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14
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Yang F, Jin H, Wang J, Sun Q, Yan C, Wei F, Ren X. Adoptive Cellular Therapy (ACT) for Cancer Treatment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 909:169-239. [PMID: 27240459 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7555-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) with various lymphocytes or antigen-presenting cells is one stone in the pillar of cancer immunotherapy, which relies on the tumor-specific T cell. The transfusion of bulk T-cell population into patients is an effective treatment for regression of cancer. In this chapter, we summarize the development of various strategies in ACT for cancer immunotherapy and discuss some of the latest progress and obstacles in technical, safety, and even regulatory aspects to translate these technologies to the clinic. ACT is becoming a potentially powerful approach to cancer treatment. Further experiments and clinical trials are needed to optimize this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Jin
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Cihui Yan
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Wei
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, Tianjin, China.
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15
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Sun C, Sun HY, Xiao WH, Zhang C, Tian ZG. Natural killer cell dysfunction in hepatocellular carcinoma and NK cell-based immunotherapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2015; 36:1191-9. [PMID: 26073325 PMCID: PMC4648180 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2015.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms linking hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. Natural killer (NK) cells account for 25%–50% of the total number of liver lymphocytes, suggesting that NK cells play an important role in liver immunity. The number of NK cells in the blood and tumor tissues of HCC patients is positively correlated with their survival and prognosis. Furthermore, a group of NK cell-associated genes in HCC tissues is positively associated with the prolonged survival. These facts suggest that NK cells and HCC progression are strongly associated. In this review, we describe the abnormal NK cells and their functional impairment in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection, which contribute to the progression of HCC. Then, we summarize the association of NK cells with HCC based on the abnormalities in the numbers and phenotypes of blood and liver NK cells in HCC patients. In particular, the exhaustion of NK cells that represents lower cytotoxicity and impaired cytokine production may serve as a predictor for the occurrence of HCC. Finally, we present the current achievements in NK cell immunotherapy conducted in mouse models of liver cancer and in clinical trials, highlighting how chemoimmunotherapy, NK cell transfer, gene therapy, cytokine therapy and mAb therapy improve NK cell function in HCC treatment. It is conceivable that NK cell-based anti-HCC therapeutic strategies alone or in combination with other therapies will be great promise for HCC treatment.
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16
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Guo Y, Luan L, Rabacal W, Bohannon JK, Fensterheim BA, Hernandez A, Sherwood ER. IL-15 Superagonist-Mediated Immunotoxicity: Role of NK Cells and IFN-γ. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015. [PMID: 26216888 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
IL-15 is currently undergoing clinical trials to assess its efficacy for treatment of advanced cancers. The combination of IL-15 with soluble IL-15Rα generates a complex termed IL-15 superagonist (IL-15 SA) that possesses greater biological activity than IL-15 alone. IL-15 SA is considered an attractive antitumor and antiviral agent because of its ability to selectively expand NK and memory CD8(+) T (mCD8(+) T) lymphocytes. However, the adverse consequences of IL-15 SA treatment have not been defined. In this study, the effect of IL-15 SA on physiologic and immunologic functions of mice was evaluated. IL-15 SA caused dose- and time-dependent hypothermia, weight loss, liver injury, and mortality. NK (especially the proinflammatory NK subset), NKT, and mCD8(+) T cells were preferentially expanded in spleen and liver upon IL-15 SA treatment. IL-15 SA caused NK cell activation as indicated by increased CD69 expression and IFN-γ, perforin, and granzyme B production, whereas NKT and mCD8(+) T cells showed minimal, if any, activation. Cell depletion and adoptive transfer studies showed that the systemic toxicity of IL-15 SA was mediated by hyperproliferation of activated NK cells. Production of the proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, but not TNF-α or perforin, was essential to IL-15 SA-induced immunotoxicity. The toxicity and immunological alterations shown in this study are comparable to those reported in recent clinical trials of IL-15 in patients with refractory cancers and advance current knowledge by providing mechanistic insights into IL-15 SA-mediated immunotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Guo
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; and Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Liming Luan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Whitney Rabacal
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; and
| | - Julia K Bohannon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Benjamin A Fensterheim
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; and
| | - Antonio Hernandez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Edward R Sherwood
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232; and Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
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17
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"Adherent" versus Other Isolation Strategies for Expanding Purified, Potent, and Activated Human NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:869547. [PMID: 26161419 PMCID: PMC4486741 DOI: 10.1155/2015/869547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have long been hypothesized to play a central role in the development of new immunotherapies to combat a variety of cancers due to their intrinsic ability to lyse tumor cells. For the past several decades, various isolation and expansion methods have been developed to harness the full antitumor potential of NK cells. These protocols have varied greatly between laboratories and several have been optimized for large-scale clinical use despite associated complexity and high cost. Here, we present a simple method of "adherent" enrichment and expansion of NK cells, developed using both healthy donors' and cancer patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and compare its effectiveness with various published protocols to highlight the pros and cons of their use in adoptive cell therapy. By building upon the concepts and data presented, future research can be adapted to provide simple, cost-effective, reproducible, and translatable procedures for personalized treatment with NK cells.
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18
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Keppel MP, Saucier N, Mah AY, Vogel TP, Cooper MA. Activation-specific metabolic requirements for NK Cell IFN-γ production. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 194:1954-62. [PMID: 25595780 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing recognition of the importance of cellular metabolism and metabolic substrates for the function and differentiation of immune cells. In this study, for the first time to our knowledge, we investigate the metabolic requirements for production of IFN-γ by freshly isolated NK cells. Primary murine NK cells mainly use mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation at rest and with short-term activation. Remarkably, we discovered significant differences in the metabolic requirements of murine NK cell IFN-γ production depending upon the activation signal. Stimulation of NK cell IFN-γ production was independent of glycolysis or mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation when cells were activated with IL-12 plus IL-18. By contrast, stimulation via activating NK receptors required glucose-driven oxidative phosphorylation. Prolonged treatment with high-dose, but not low-dose, IL-15 eliminated the metabolic requirement for receptor stimulation. In summary, this study demonstrates that metabolism provides an essential second signal for induction of IFN-γ production by activating NK cell receptors that can be reversed with prolonged high-dose IL-15 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly P Keppel
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Nermina Saucier
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Annelise Y Mah
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Tiphanie P Vogel
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; and
| | - Megan A Cooper
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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19
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Saito S, Harada Y, Morodomi Y, Onimaru M, Yoshida K, Kyuragi R, Matsubara H, Yonemitsu Y. Ex vivo generation of highly purified and activated natural killer cells from human peripheral blood. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2014; 24:241-52. [PMID: 23885718 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2012.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy using natural killer (NK) cells has been a promising treatment for intractable malignancies; however, there remain a number of difficulties with respect to the shortage and limited anticancer potency of the effector cells. We here established a simple feeder-free method to generate purified (>90%) and highly activated NK cells from human peripheral blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Among the several parameters, we found that CD3 depletion, high-dose interleukin (IL)-2, and use of a specific culture medium were sufficient to obtain highly purified, expanded (∼200-fold) and activated CD3(-)/CD56(+) NK cells from PBMCs, which we designated zenithal-NK (Z-NK) cells. Almost all Z-NK cells expressed the lymphocyte-activated marker CD69 and showed dramatically high expression of activation receptors (i.e., NKG2D), interferon-γ, perforin, and granzyme B. Importantly, only 2 hours of reaction at an effector/target ratio of 1:1 was sufficient to kill almost all K562 cells, and the antitumor activity was also replicated in tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Cytolysis was specific for various tumor cells, but not for normal cells, irrespective of MHC class I expression. These findings strongly indicate that Z-NK cells are purified, expanded, and near-fully activated human NK cells and warrant further investigation in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Saito
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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20
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Baier C, Fino A, Sanchez C, Farnault L, Rihet P, Kahn-Perlès B, Costello RT. Natural killer cells modulation in hematological malignancies. Front Immunol 2013; 4:459. [PMID: 24391641 PMCID: PMC3867693 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematological malignancies (HM) treatment improved over the last years resulting in increased achievement of complete or partial remission, but unfortunately high relapse rates are still observed, due to remaining minimal residual disease. Therefore, sustainment of long-term remission is crucial, using either drug maintenance treatment or by boosting or prolonging an immune response. Immune system has a key role in tumor surveillance. Nonetheless, tumor-cells evade the specific T-lymphocyte mediated immune surveillance using many mechanisms but especially by the down-regulation of the expression of HLA class I antigens. In theory, these tumor-cells lacking normal expression of HLA class I molecules should be destroyed by natural killer (NK) cells, according to the missing-self hypothesis. NK cells, at the frontier of innate and adaptive immune system, have a central role in tumor-cells surveillance as demonstrated in the setting of allogenic stem cell transplantation. Nevertheless, tumors develop various mechanisms to escape from NK innate immune pressure. Abnormal NK cytolytic functions have been described in many HM. We present here various mechanisms involved in the escape of HM from NK-cell surveillance, i.e., NK-cells quantitative and qualitative abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Baier
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Aurore Fino
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | | | - Laure Farnault
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; Service d'hématologie, APHM, Hôpital de la Conception , Marseille , France
| | - Pascal Rihet
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Brigitte Kahn-Perlès
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Régis T Costello
- UMR1090 TAGC, INSERM , Marseille , France ; UMR1090 TAGC, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France ; Service d'hématologie, APHM, Hôpital de la Conception , Marseille , France
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21
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Laprevotte E, Voisin G, Ysebaert L, Klein C, Daugrois C, Laurent G, Fournie JJ, Quillet-Mary A. Recombinant human IL-15 trans-presentation by B leukemic cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia induces autologous NK cell proliferation leading to improved anti-CD20 immunotherapy. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 191:3634-40. [PMID: 23997218 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) is one of the most promising cytokines for antitumor immunotherapy. In physiology IL-15 trans-presentation by accessory cells leads to pleiotropic activities, including activation of immune cells, such as NK cells. NK cells are largely involved in Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by therapeutic mAbs, such as rituximab, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Nevertheless, in CLL, Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is relatively impaired by the low E:T ratio (NK/B leukemic cells). Thus, any strategy leading to an increase in NK cell number and activation status can offer new strategies for CLL treatment. To this end, we evaluated the effect of rhIL-15 on autologous NK cell stimulation in CLL samples. We show that rhIL-15 induces NK cell activation and proliferation, leading to improved B leukemic cell depletion. This phenomenon is significantly increased in the presence of anti-CD20 mAbs. In addition, the greater effect of obinutuzumab versus rituximab suggests a cooperative role between rhIL-15 signaling and CD16 signaling in the induction of NK cell proliferation. Moreover, rhIL-15-induced proliferation of autologous NK cells is strictly dependent on their interaction with B leukemic cells, identified in this study as new accessory cells for rhIL-15 trans-presentation. Thus, rhIL-15 is able to promote NK cell-based activity in Ab immunotherapy of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Laprevotte
- INSERM Unité Mixte de Recherche 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, BP3028 Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Purpan, F-31300 Toulouse, France
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Lapteva N, Durett AG, Sun J, Rollins LA, Huye LL, Fang J, Dandekar V, Mei Z, Jackson K, Vera J, Ando J, Ngo MC, Coustan-Smith E, Campana D, Szmania S, Garg T, Moreno-Bost A, Vanrhee F, Gee AP, Rooney CM. Large-scale ex vivo expansion and characterization of natural killer cells for clinical applications. Cytotherapy 2012; 14:1131-43. [PMID: 22900959 PMCID: PMC4787300 DOI: 10.3109/14653249.2012.700767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Interest in natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has resurged since new protocols for the purification and expansion of large numbers of clinical-grade cells have become available. METHODS We have successfully adapted a previously described NK expansion method that uses K562 cells expressing interleukin (IL)-15 and 4-1 BB Ligand (BBL) (K562-mb15-41BBL) to grow NK cells in novel gas-permeable static cell culture flasks (G-Rex). RESULTS Using this system we produced up to 19 × 10(9) functional NK cells from unseparated apheresis products, starting with 15 × 10(7) CD3(-) CD56 (+) NK cells, within 8-10 days of culture. The G-Rex yielded a higher fold expansion of NK cells than conventional gas-permeable bags and required no cell manipulation or feeding during the culture period. We also showed that K562-mb15-41BBL cells up-regulated surface HLA class I antigen expression upon stimulation with the supernatants from NK cultures and stimulated alloreactive CD8 (+) T cells within the NK cultures. However, these CD3 (+) T cells could be removed successfully using the CliniMACS system. We describe our optimized NK cell cryopreservation method and show that the NK cells are viable and functional even after 12 months of cryopreservation. CONCLUSIONS We have successfully developed a static culture protocol for large-scale expansion of NK cells in the gas permeable G-Rex system under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. This strategy is currently being used to produce NK cells for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Lapteva
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, The Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Hematological malignancies escape from NK cell innate immune surveillance: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:421702. [PMID: 22899948 PMCID: PMC3415262 DOI: 10.1155/2012/421702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Revised: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Hematological malignancies treatment improved over the last years resulting in increased achievement of complete or partial remission, but unfortunately high relapse rates are still observed. Therefore, sustainment of long-term remission is crucial. Immune system has a key role in tumor surveillance. Natural killer (NK) cells, at the frontier of innate and adaptive immune system, have a central role in tumor cells surveillance as demonstrated in the setting of allogenic stem cell transplantation. Nevertheless, tumor cells develop various mechanisms to escape from NK cells innate immune pressure. Abnormal NK cytolytic functions have been described in nearly all hematological malignancies. We present here various mechanisms involved in the escape of hematological malignancies from NK cells surveillance: NK cells quantitative deficiency and NK cell qualitative deficiency by increased inhibition signaling or decreased activating stimuli. A challenge of immunotherapy is to restore an efficient antitumor response. A combination of classical therapy plus immune modulation strategies will soon become a standard of care for hematological malignancies.
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Lin SJ, Yan DC, Lee YC, Hsiao HS, Lee PT, Liang YW, Kuo ML. Umbilical cord blood immunology: relevance to stem cell transplantation. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2012; 42:45-57. [PMID: 22134956 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-011-8289-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Because of its easier accessibility and less severe graft-versus-host disease, umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been increasingly used as an alternative to bone marrow for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Naiveté of UCB lymphocytes, however, results in delayed immune reconstitution and infection-related mortality in transplant recipients. This review updates the phenotypic and functional deficiencies of various immune cell populations in UCB compared with their adult counterparts and discusses clinical implications and possible therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome of stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syh-Jae Lin
- Division of Asthma, Allergy, and Rheumatology Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China
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25
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Koh MBC, Suck G. Cell therapy: promise fulfilled? Biologicals 2012; 40:214-7. [PMID: 22405888 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2011.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular immunotherapy has been widely accepted as a new powerful modality of cancer treatment. The last 2 decades have seen impressive results in its application against haemato-oncologic malignancies, melanomas and prostate carcinoma. Cellular immunotherapy has since found applicability beyond cancer into autoimmunity and continues to expand in its clinical applicability. The discovery that stem cells have the ability to differentiate into more mature cell types, like neurones and myocardium, has focused research on using exogenous cells to repair damaged tissues. This led to numerous clinical trials using stem cells in myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and spinal cord damage. Results have ranged from modest to significant clinical outcomes with continuing debate on the exact process of regeneration achieved. The intertwining between cell therapy and transfusion medicine now includes research on progenitor cells for the production of mature red cells. It is also clear that cell therapy has enabled an improved understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical course of many diseases, while perhaps its role in regenerative medicine is most enticing. However, the critical role of manufacturing in terms of cost, complexity, reproducibility, and regulatory matters remains a central issue in the consideration of whether cell therapy has met all of its promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickey B C Koh
- Blood Services Group, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore.
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Takei F. LAK cell therapy of AML: not to be lost in translation. Exp Hematol 2011; 39:1045-6. [PMID: 21871244 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2011.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Expanding highly cytotoxic lymphokine activated natural killer cells and cytokine induced killer T cells by Good Manufacturing Practice-quality cultures is an important step toward effective use of those killer cells to treat acute myeloid leukemia patients receiving stem cell transplantation. Elucidating how those killer cells recognize leukemia stem cells will be the next challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Takei
- Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
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Abstract
Analogous to T cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells may facilitate engraftment, combat infection, and control cancer in bone marrow or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); however, NK cells do not cause graft-versus-host disease. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate NK cell function, and recent data suggest that KIR is as important as its ligand (human leucocyte antigen; HLA) in HSCT for both malignant and non-malignant conditions. Because there is substantial variability in KIR gene content, allelic polymorphism, and cell-surface expression among people, careful selection of donors based on HLA and KIR is essential to optimize HSCT outcomes. Furthermore, NK cells may be used for adoptive immunotherapy after HSCT in place of conventional donor lymphocyte infusion, as part of pre-transplant cytoreductive therapy, or as an independent therapeutic agent in high-risk leukaemia in place of sibling donor HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wing Leung
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 26 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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