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Vo DN, Yuan O, Kanaya M, Telliam-Dushime G, Li H, Kotova O, Caglar E, Honnens de Lichtenberg K, Rahman SH, Soneji S, Scheding S, Bryder D, Malmberg KJ, Sitnicka E. A temporal developmental map separates human NK cells from noncytotoxic ILCs through clonal and single-cell analysis. Blood Adv 2024; 8:2933-2951. [PMID: 38484189 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Natural killer (NK) cells represent the cytotoxic member within the innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family that are important against viral infections and cancer. Although the NK cell emergence from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells through multiple intermediate stages and the underlying regulatory gene network has been extensively studied in mice, this process is not well characterized in humans. Here, using a temporal in vitro model to reconstruct the developmental trajectory of NK lineage, we identified an ILC-restricted oligopotent stage 3a CD34-CD117+CD161+CD45RA+CD56- progenitor population, that exclusively gave rise to CD56-expressing ILCs in vitro. We also further investigated a previously nonappreciated heterogeneity within the CD56+CD94-NKp44+ subset, phenotypically equivalent to stage 3b population containing both group-1 ILC and RORγt+ ILC3 cells, that could be further separated based on their differential expression of DNAM-1 and CD161 receptors. We confirmed that DNAM-1hi S3b and CD161hiCD117hi ILC3 populations distinctively differed in their expression of effector molecules, cytokine secretion, and cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, analysis of lineage output using DNA-barcode tracing across these stages supported a close developmental relationship between S3b-NK and S4-NK (CD56+CD94+) cells, whereas distant to the ILC3 subset. Cross-referencing gene signatures of culture-derived NK cells and other noncytotoxic ILCs with publicly available data sets validated that these in vitro stages highly resemble transcriptional profiles of respective in vivo ILC counterparts. Finally, by integrating RNA velocity and gene network analysis through single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering we unravel a network of coordinated and highly dynamic regulons driving the cytotoxic NK cell program, as a guide map for future studies on NK cell regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dang Nghiem Vo
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ouyang Yuan
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Minoru Kanaya
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gladys Telliam-Dushime
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hongzhe Li
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olga Kotova
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Emel Caglar
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Cell Therapy Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Shamit Soneji
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefan Scheding
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - David Bryder
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ewa Sitnicka
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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2
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Maia A, Tarannum M, Lérias JR, Piccinelli S, Borrego LM, Maeurer M, Romee R, Castillo-Martin M. Building a Better Defense: Expanding and Improving Natural Killer Cells for Adoptive Cell Therapy. Cells 2024; 13:451. [PMID: 38474415 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have gained attention as a promising adoptive cell therapy platform for their potential to improve cancer treatments. NK cells offer distinct advantages over T-cells, including major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-independent tumor recognition and low risk of toxicity, even in an allogeneic setting. Despite this tremendous potential, challenges persist, such as limited in vivo persistence, reduced tumor infiltration, and low absolute NK cell numbers. This review outlines several strategies aiming to overcome these challenges. The developed strategies include optimizing NK cell expansion methods and improving NK cell antitumor responses by cytokine stimulation and genetic manipulations. Using K562 cells expressing membrane IL-15 or IL-21 with or without additional activating ligands like 4-1BBL allows "massive" NK cell expansion and makes multiple cell dosing and "off-the-shelf" efforts feasible. Further improvements in NK cell function can be reached by inducing memory-like NK cells, developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells, or isolating NK-cell-based tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Memory-like NK cells demonstrate higher in vivo persistence and cytotoxicity, with early clinical trials demonstrating safety and promising efficacy. Recent trials using CAR-NK cells have also demonstrated a lack of any major toxicity, including cytokine release syndrome, and, yet, promising clinical activity. Recent data support that the presence of TIL-NK cells is associated with improved overall patient survival in different types of solid tumors such as head and neck, colorectal, breast, and gastric carcinomas, among the most significant. In conclusion, this review presents insights into the diverse strategies available for NK cell expansion, including the roles played by various cytokines, feeder cells, and culture material in influencing the activation phenotype, telomere length, and cytotoxic potential of expanded NK cells. Notably, genetically modified K562 cells have demonstrated significant efficacy in promoting NK cell expansion. Furthermore, culturing NK cells with IL-2 and IL-15 has been shown to improve expansion rates, while the presence of IL-12 and IL-21 has been linked to enhanced cytotoxic function. Overall, this review provides an overview of NK cell expansion methodologies, highlighting the current landscape of clinical trials and the key advancements to enhance NK-cell-based adoptive cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Maia
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mubin Tarannum
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joana R Lérias
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Piccinelli
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Luis Miguel Borrego
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), NOVA University of Lisbon, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
- Immunoallergy Department, Hospital da Luz, 1600-209 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Markus Maeurer
- ImmunoTherapy/ImmunoSurgery, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- I Medical Clinic, University of Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rizwan Romee
- NK Cell Gene Manipulation and Therapy Laboratory, Division of Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Transplant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mireia Castillo-Martin
- Molecular and Experimental Pathology Laboratory, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
- Pathology Service, Champalimaud Clinical Center, Champalimaud Foundation, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
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3
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Jiang JH, Ren RT, Cheng YJ, Li XX, Zhang GR. Immune cells and RBCs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells: method, progress, prospective challenges. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1327466. [PMID: 38250324 PMCID: PMC10796611 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1327466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood has an important role in the healthcare system, particularly in blood transfusions and immunotherapy. However, the occurrence of outbreaks of infectious diseases worldwide and seasonal fluctuations, blood shortages are becoming a major challenge. Moreover, the narrow specificity of immune cells hinders the widespread application of immune cell therapy. To address this issue, researchers are actively developing strategies for differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into blood cells in vitro. The establishment of iPSCs from terminally differentiated cells such as fibroblasts and blood cells is a straightforward process. However, there is need for further refinement of the protocols for differentiating iPSCs into immune cells and red blood cells to ensure their clinical applicability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the strategies and challenges facing the generation of iPSC-derived immune cells and red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-he Jiang
- Shandong Yinfeng Academy of Life Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ru-tong Ren
- Shandong Yinfeng Academy of Life Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yan-jie Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Science, School of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou, Anhui, China
| | - Xin-xin Li
- Shandong Yinfeng Academy of Life Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Gui-rong Zhang
- Shandong Yinfeng Academy of Life Science, Jinan, Shandong, China
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4
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Hegewisch-Solloa E, Nalin AP, Freud AG, Mace EM. Deciphering the localization and trajectory of human natural killer cell development. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 114:487-506. [PMID: 36869821 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune cells represent the first line of cellular immunity, comprised of both circulating and tissue-resident natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells. These innate lymphocytes arise from a common CD34+ progenitor that differentiates into mature natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells. The successive stages in natural killer cell maturation are characterized by increased lineage restriction and changes to phenotype and function. Mechanisms of human natural killer cell development have not been fully elucidated, especially the role of signals that drive the spatial localization and maturation of natural killer cells. Cytokines, extracellular matrix components, and chemokines provide maturation signals and influence the trafficking of natural killer cell progenitors to peripheral sites of differentiation. Here we present the latest advances in our understanding of natural killer and innate lymphoid cell development in peripheral sites, including secondary lymphoid tissues (i.e. tonsil). Recent work in the field has provided a model for the spatial distribution of natural killer cell and innate lymphoid cell developmental intermediates in tissue and generated further insights into the developmental niche. In support of this model, future studies using multifaceted approaches seek to fully map the developmental trajectory of human natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells in secondary lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everardo Hegewisch-Solloa
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ansel P Nalin
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Medical Scientist Training Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W 10th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aharon G Freud
- Department of Pathology, Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 460 W 12th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emily M Mace
- Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 W 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
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5
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Chang Y, Jin G, Luo W, Luo Q, Jung J, Hummel SN, Torregrosa-Allen S, Elzey BD, Low PS, Lian XL, Bao X. Engineered human pluripotent stem cell-derived natural killer cells with PD-L1 responsive immunological memory for enhanced immunotherapeutic efficacy. Bioact Mater 2023; 27:168-180. [PMID: 37091063 PMCID: PMC10113709 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered natural killer (NK) cells have shown promise in treating various cancers. However, limited immunological memory and access to sufficient numbers of allogenic donor cells have hindered their broader preclinical and clinical applications. Here, we first assess eight different CAR constructs that use an anti-PD-L1 nanobody and/or universal anti-fluorescein (FITC) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) to enhance antigen-specific proliferation and anti-tumor cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells against heterogenous solid tumors. We next genetically engineer human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) with optimized CARs and differentiate them into functional dual CAR-NK cells. The tumor microenvironment responsive anti-PD-L1 CAR effectively promoted hPSC-NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity through antigen-dependent activation of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) and pSTAT5 signaling pathways via an intracellular truncated IL-2 receptor β-chain (ΔIL-2Rβ) and STAT3-binding tyrosine-X-X-glutamine (YXXQ) motif. Anti-tumor activities of PD-L1-induced memory-like hPSC-NK cells were further boosted by administering a FITC-folate bi-specific adapter that bridges between a programmable anti-FITC CAR and folate receptor alpha-expressing breast tumor cells. Collectively, our hPSC CAR-NK engineering platform is modular and could constitute a realistic strategy to manufacture off-the-shelf CAR-NK cells with immunological memory-like phenotype for targeted immunotherapy.
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6
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Lin X, Sun Y, Dong X, Liu Z, Sugimura R, Xie G. IPSC-derived CAR-NK cells for cancer immunotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115123. [PMID: 37406511 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies (ACT) based on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified immune cells have made great progress with six CAR-T cell products approved by the U.S. FDA for hematological malignancies. Compared with CAR-T cells, CAR-NK cells have attracted increasing attention owing to their multiple killing mechanisms, higher safety profile, and broad sources. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells possess a mature phenotype and potent cytolytic activity, and can provide a homogeneous population of CAR-NK cells that can be expanded to clinical scale. Thus, iPSC-derived CAR-NK (CAR-iNK) cells could be used as a standardized and "off-the-shelf" product for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the current status of the manufacturing techniques, genetic modification strategies, preclinical and clinical evidence of CAR-iNK cells, and discuss the challenges and future prospects of CAR-iNK cell therapy as a novel cellular immunotherapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yao Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xin Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zishen Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ryohichi Sugimura
- Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
| | - Guozhu Xie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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7
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Zhang Y, Zhou W, Yang J, Yang J, Wang W. Chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells for cancer therapy. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:70. [PMID: 37563648 PMCID: PMC10413722 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells, a unique component of the innate immune system, are inherent killers of stressed and transformed cells. Based on their potent capacity to kill cancer cells and good tolerance of healthy cells, NK cells have been successfully employed in adoptive cell therapy to treat cancer patients. In recent years, the clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has proven the vast potential of gene-manipulated immune cells as the main force to fight cancer. Following the lessons learned from mature gene-transfer technologies and advanced strategies in CAR-T therapy, NK cells have been rapidly explored as a promising candidate for CAR-based therapy. An exponentially growing number of studies have employed multiple sources of CAR-NK cells to target a wide range of cancer-related antigens, showing remarkable outcomes and encouraging safety profiles. Clinical trials of CAR-NK cells have also shown their impressive therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors, but CAR-NK cell therapy for solid tumors is still in the initial stages. In this review, we present the favorable profile of NK cells as a potential platform for CAR-based engineering and then summarize the outcomes and strategies of CAR-NK therapies in up-to-date preclinical and clinical investigations. Finally, we evaluate the challenges remaining in CAR-NK therapy and describe existing strategies that can assist us in devising future prospective solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangping Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology and Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
- Hematology Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Merino A, Maakaron J, Bachanova V. Advances in NK cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: NK source, persistence and tumor targeting. Blood Rev 2023; 60:101073. [PMID: 36959057 PMCID: PMC10979648 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells yield promise in therapy of hematologic malignancies. The clinical experience with adoptively transferred allogeneic NK cells over past two decades has revealed safety and minimal risk of CRS or ICANS. Unlike T cells which have to be genetically altered to avoid graft vs host disease (GVHD), HLA mismatched NK cells can be infused without GVHD risk. This makes them ideal for the development of off-the-shelf products. In this review we focus on NK biology relevant to the cancer therapy, the trajectory of NK therapeutics for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma; and advantages of the NK cell platform. We will also discuss novel methods to enhance NK cell targeting, persistence, and function in the tumor microenvironment. The future of NK cell therapy depends on novel strategies to realize these qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Merino
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Joseph Maakaron
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Veronika Bachanova
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
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9
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Li YR, Dunn ZS, Yu Y, Li M, Wang P, Yang L. Advancing cell-based cancer immunotherapy through stem cell engineering. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:592-610. [PMID: 36948187 PMCID: PMC10164150 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Advances in cell-based therapy, particularly CAR-T cell therapy, have transformed the treatment of hematological malignancies. Although an important step forward for the field, autologous CAR-T therapies are hindered by high costs, manufacturing challenges, and limited efficacy against solid tumors. With ongoing progress in gene editing and culture techniques, engineered stem cells and their application in cell therapy are poised to address some of these challenges. Here, we review stem cell-based immunotherapy approaches, stem cell sources, gene engineering and manufacturing strategies, therapeutic platforms, and clinical trials, as well as challenges and future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zachary Spencer Dunn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pin Wang
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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10
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Faeq MH, Al-Haideri M, Mohammad TAM, Gharebakhshi F, Marofi F, Tahmasebi S, Modaresahmadi S. CAR-modified immune cells as a rapidly evolving approach in the context of cancer immunotherapies. Med Oncol 2023; 40:155. [PMID: 37083979 PMCID: PMC10119530 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02019-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, one of the main challenges clinicians face is malignancies. Through the progression of technology in recent years, tumor nature and tumor microenvironment (TME) can be better understood. Because of immune system involvement in tumorigenesis and immune cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment, clinicians encounter significant challenges in patient treatment and normal function recovery. The tumor microenvironment can stop the development of tumor antigen-specific helper and cytotoxic T cells in the tumor invasion process. Tumors stimulate the production of proinflammatory and immunosuppressive factors and cells that inhibit immune responses. Despite the more successful outcomes, the current cancer therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have not been effective enough for tumor eradication. Hence, developing new treatment strategies such as monoclonal antibodies, adaptive cell therapies, cancer vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and cytokines helps improve cancer treatment. Among adoptive cell therapies, the interaction between the immune system and malignancies and using molecular biology led to the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR-modified immune cells are one of the modern cancer therapeutic methods with encouraging outcomes in most hematological and solid cancers. The current study aimed to discuss the structure, formation, subtypes, and application of CAR immune cells in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Hikmat Faeq
- Student of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maysoon Al-Haideri
- Department of Physiotherapy, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Talar Ahmad Merza Mohammad
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Farshad Gharebakhshi
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faroogh Marofi
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Safa Tahmasebi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shadan Modaresahmadi
- Department of Immunology and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Siences Center, Abilene, TX, USA
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11
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Dizaji Asl K, Rafat A, Mazloumi Z, Valipour B, Movassaghpour A, Talebi M, Mahdavi M, Tayefi Nasrabadi H, Nozad Charoudeh H. Cord blood stem cell-generated KIR +NK cells effectively target leukemia cell lines. Hum Immunol 2023; 84:98-105. [PMID: 36396515 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoid (ALL) and myeloid leukemia (AML) are known to be invasive and highly lethal hematological malignancies. Because current treatments are insufficient and have a variety of side effects, researchers are looking for new and more effective therapeutic methods. Interestingly, ongoing efforts to find the best approach to optimize NK cell anti-leukemia potential shed light on the successful treatment of cancer. Mature KIR+NK cells ability to remove HLA Class-I deficient cells has been exploited in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we generated KIR+NK cells from cord blood stem cells using IL-2 and IL-15 cytokines. Our finding underlined the importance of KIR expression in the cytotoxic function of NK cells. Taken together, this study presented an effective in vitro method for the expansion and differentiation of KIR+NK cells using cytokines without any feeder cells. Furthermore, the presented culture condition could be useful for the generation of mature and pure NK cells from limited numbers of CD34+ cord blood cells and might be used as a novel method to improve the current state of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijeh Dizaji Asl
- Stem Cell Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Histopathology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Rafat
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Zeinab Mazloumi
- Stem Cell Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Medical Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behnaz Valipour
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Sarab Faculty of Medical Sciences, Sarab, Iran
| | - Aliakbar Movassaghpour
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Talebi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Majid Mahdavi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamid Tayefi Nasrabadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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12
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Mazloumi Z, Rafat A, Dizaji Asl K, Nozad Charoudeh H. A combination of telomerase inhibition and NK cell therapy increased breast cancer cell line apoptosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 640:50-55. [PMID: 36502631 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.11.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast tumor with the highest breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) content and resistance to conventional treatment. Due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and immunogenicity of breast cancer cells, the use of immune cells, especially natural killer cells (NK) in the treatment of solid tumors, including breast cancer, has been unsatisfactory. Therefore, identifying novel therapies is requisite for breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, the combination of cancer therapies is an effective strategy to improve therapeutic effectiveness. In this study, we inhibited telomerase (hTERT) with BIBR1532, in stimulating NK cell cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. The MDA-MB-231 cell line was cured with IC50 level of BIBR1532 for 24 h. Afterward, cells were washed with PBS and were co-cultured with peripheral blood NK cell for 5h. Finally, we assessed the impact of telomerase inhibition on the cytotoxicity of NK cells and apoptosis of breast cancer. Also, the expression of hTERT and apoptotic-related genes were evaluated. The data revealed that inhibition of telomerase increases NK cell cytotoxicity against breast cancer. Furthermore, telomerase inhibition and NK cell synergistically enhanced cell death in breast cancer cells by suppressing hTERT, upregulation of bax, and bad expression. In conclusion, telomerase suppression makes breast cancer cells more sensitive to NK cell therapy. Consequently, the combination of telomerase inhibition and NK cells can be useful in the treatment of breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Mazloumi
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Rafat
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Dizaji Asl
- Department of Histopathology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
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13
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Jin G, Chang Y, Harris J, Bao X. Adoptive Immunotherapy: A Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Perspective. Cells Tissues Organs 2023; 212:439-467. [PMID: 36599319 PMCID: PMC10318121 DOI: 10.1159/000528838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed significant advances in cancer immunotherapy, particularly through the adoptive transfer of engineered T cells in treating advanced leukemias and lymphomas. Despite these excitements, challenges remain with scale, cost, and ensuring quality control of engineered immune cells, including chimeric antigen receptor T, natural killer cells, and macrophages. The advent of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, has transformed immunotherapy by providing a scalable, off-the-shelf source of any desired immune cells for basic research, translational studies, and clinical interventions. The tractability of hPSCs for gene editing could also generate homogenous, universal cellular products with custom functionality for individual or combinatory therapeutic applications. This review will explore various immune cell types whose directed differentiation from hPSCs has been achieved and recently adapted for translational immunotherapy and feature forward-looking bioengineering techniques shaping the future of the stem cell field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyuhyung Jin
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Yun Chang
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Jackson Harris
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Xiaoping Bao
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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14
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION New methods in cancer immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, have shown promising results in destroying malignant cells. However, limitations and side effects of CAR-T cell therapy, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), neurotoxicity, and cytokine release syndrome, have motivated researchers to investigate safer alternative cells like natural killer (NK) cells. AREA COVERED NK cells can effectively recognize hematologic malignant cells and destroy them. Many clinical and preclinical studies investigate the efficacy of CAR-NK cells in treating lymphoma and other hematologic malignancies. The results of published clinical trials and preclinical studies have shown that CAR-NK cells could be an appropriate choice for treating lymphoma. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of CAR-NK cells, their role in treating B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, and the challenges faced by using them. We also highlight clinical trials using CAR-NK cells for treating lymphoma. EXPERT OPINION CAR-NK cells have shown promising results in cancer therapy, especially B-cell lymphoma, with a much lower risk for GVHD, cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity than CAR-T cells. Further investigations are required to overcome the obstacles of CAR-NK cell therapy, both generally, and in cancers like T-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaghayegh Khanmohammadi
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Qin H, You C, Yan F, Tan K, Xu C, Zhao R, Ekpo MD, Tan S. Overcoming the challenges in translational development of natural killer cell therapeutics: An opinion paper. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1062765. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1062765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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16
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Xiao J, Zhang T, Gao F, Zhou Z, Shu G, Zou Y, Yin G. Natural Killer Cells: A Promising Kit in the Adoptive Cell Therapy Toolbox. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225657. [PMID: 36428748 PMCID: PMC9688567 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As an important component of the innate immune system, natural killer (NK) cells have gained increasing attention in adoptive cell therapy for their safety and efficacious tumor-killing effect. Unlike T cells which rely on the interaction between TCRs and specific peptide-MHC complexes, NK cells are more prone to be served as "off-the-shelf" cell therapy products due to their rapid recognition and killing of tumor cells without MHC restriction. In recent years, constantly emerging sources of therapeutic NK cells have provided flexible options for cancer immunotherapy. Advanced genetic engineering techniques, especially chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modification, have yielded exciting effectiveness in enhancing NK cell specificity and cytotoxicity, improving in vivo persistence, and overcoming immunosuppressive factors derived from tumors. In this review, we highlight current advances in NK-based adoptive cell therapy, including alternative sources of NK cells for adoptive infusion, various CAR modifications that confer different targeting specificity to NK cells, multiple genetic engineering strategies to enhance NK cell function, as well as the latest clinical research on adoptive NK cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Xiao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhengwei Zhou
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guang Shu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
| | - Gang Yin
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (G.Y.)
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17
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Wang X, Yang X, Yuan X, Wang W, Wang Y. Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered NK cells: new weapons of cancer immunotherapy with great potential. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:85. [PMID: 36324149 PMCID: PMC9628181 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00341-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cells have obtained prominent achievement in the clinical immunotherapy of hematological malignant tumors, leading to a rapid development of cellular immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Scientists are also aware of the prospective advantages of CAR engineering in cellular immunotherapy. Due to various limitations such as the serious side effects of CAR-T therapy, researchers began to investigate other immune cells for CAR modification. Natural killer (NK) cells are critical innate immune cells with the characteristic of non-specifically recognizing target cells and with the potential to become "off-the-shelf" products. In recent years, many preclinical studies on CAR-engineered NK (CAR-NK) cells have shown their remarkable efficacy in cancer therapy and their superiority over autologous CAR-T cells. In this review, we summarize the generation, mechanisms of anti-tumor activity and unique advantages of CAR-NK cells, and then analyze some challenges and recent clinical trials about CAR-NK cells therapy. We believe that CAR-NK therapy is a promising prospect for cancer immunotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Xuejiao Yang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Xiang Yuan
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Wenbo Wang
- grid.24516.340000000123704535Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072 China
| | - Yueying Wang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
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18
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells comprise a unique population of innate lymphoid cells endowed with intrinsic abilities to identify and eliminate virally infected cells and tumour cells. Possessing multiple cytotoxicity mechanisms and the ability to modulate the immune response through cytokine production, NK cells play a pivotal role in anticancer immunity. This role was elucidated nearly two decades ago, when NK cells, used as immunotherapeutic agents, showed safety and efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage leukaemia. In recent years, following the paradigm-shifting successes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered adoptive T cell therapy and the advancement in technologies that can turn cells into powerful antitumour weapons, the interest in NK cells as a candidate for immunotherapy has grown exponentially. Strategies for the development of NK cell-based therapies focus on enhancing NK cell potency and persistence through co-stimulatory signalling, checkpoint inhibition and cytokine armouring, and aim to redirect NK cell specificity to the tumour through expression of CAR or the use of engager molecules. In the clinic, the first generation of NK cell therapies have delivered promising results, showing encouraging efficacy and remarkable safety, thus driving great enthusiasm for continued innovation. In this Review, we describe the various approaches to augment NK cell cytotoxicity and longevity, evaluate challenges and opportunities, and reflect on how lessons learned from the clinic will guide the design of next-generation NK cell products that will address the unique complexities of each cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara J Laskowski
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Biederstädt
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine III: Hematology and Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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19
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Abstract
TOP1 CAD-seq enables mapping of TOP1 sites of covalent engagement with DNA. The procedure depends upon enrichment of DNA-covalent adducts using chaotropic salts and immunoprecipitation with an antibody specific for TOP1. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol compatible with Illumina sequencing and bioinformatic pipeline for preliminary data analysis. Compared to other approaches for the genomic study of topoisomerases, TOP1 CAD-seq provides information about active TOP1 engaged on the DNA, taking advantage of low background due to absence of crosslinking. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Das et al. (2022). TOP1 CAD-seq maps sites of topoisomerase 1 catalytic engagement with the DNA The absence of a cross-linking step reduces the background signal The method is high throughput and takes no longer than a regular ChIP-seq protocol The method can be used as a proxy to assess the level of supercoiling in the genome
Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.
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20
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Stem Cell Therapy and Innate Lymphoid Cells. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:3530520. [PMID: 35958032 PMCID: PMC9363162 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3530520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells have the capability to communicate with other immune cell types to coordinate the immune system functioning during homeostasis and inflammation. However, these cells behave differently at the functional level, unlike T cells, these cells do not need antigen receptors for activation because they are activated by the interaction of their receptor ligation. In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), T cells and NK cells have been extensively studied but very few studies are available on ILCs. In this review, an attempt has been made to provide current information related to NK and ILCs cell-based stem cell therapies and role of the stem cells in the regulation of ILCs as well. Also, the latest information on the differentiation of NK cells and ILCs from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells is covered in the article.
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21
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Concurrent transposon engineering and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of primary CLL-1 chimeric antigen receptor–natural killer cells. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:1087-1094. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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22
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Chen X, Jiang L, Liu X. Natural killer cells: the next wave in cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:954804. [PMID: 35967421 PMCID: PMC9364606 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.954804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies focusing on rejuvenating T cell activities, like PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 blockade, have unprecedentedly revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment. Yet a previously underexplored component of the immune system - natural killer (NK) cell, is coming to the forefront of immunotherapeutic attempts. In this review, we discuss the contributions of NK cells in the success of current immunotherapies, provide an overview of the current preclinical and clinical strategies at harnessing NK cells for cancer treatment, and highlight that NK cell-mediated therapies emerge as a major target in the next wave of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Department of Biology, BeiGene (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
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23
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Engineering-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092266. [PMID: 35565395 PMCID: PMC9100203 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be genetically engineered and differentiated into different types of immune cells, providing an unlimited resource for developing off-the-shelf cell therapies. Here, we present a comprehensive review that describes the current stages of iPSC-based cell therapies, including iPSC-derived T, nature killer (NK), invariant natural killer T (iNKT), gamma delta T (γδ T), mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and macrophages (Mφs). Abstract Cell-based immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies, especially in patients who are refractory to other therapies. However, there are critical obstacles that hinder the widespread clinical applications of current autologous therapies, such as high cost, challenging large-scale manufacturing, and inaccessibility to the therapy for lymphopenia patients. Therefore, it is in great demand to generate the universal off-the-shelf cell products with significant scalability. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide an “unlimited supply” for cell therapy because of their unique self-renewal properties and the capacity to be genetically engineered. iPSCs can be differentiated into different immune cells, such as T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, gamma delta T (γδ T), mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and macrophages (Mφs). In this review, we describe iPSC-based allogeneic cell therapy, the different culture methods of generating iPSC-derived immune cells (e.g., iPSC-T, iPSC-NK, iPSC-iNKT, iPSC-γδT, iPSC-MAIT and iPSC-Mφ), as well as the recent advances in iPSC-T and iPSC-NK cell therapies, particularly in combinations with CAR-engineering. We also discuss the current challenges and the future perspectives in this field towards the foreseeable applications of iPSC-based immune therapy.
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24
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Chen X, Wen F, Li Z, Li W, Zhou M, Sun X, Zhao P, Zou C, Liu T. Identification of MAEL as a promoter for the drug resistance model of iPSCs derived from T-ALL. Cancer Med 2022; 11:3479-3490. [PMID: 35488386 PMCID: PMC9487874 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of the drug‐resistant and highly recurrent refractory T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL). Primary tumor cell‐derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have become very useful tumor models for cancer research including drug sensitivity tests. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying drug resistance in T‐ALL using the T‐ALL‐derived iPSCs (T‐iPSCs) model. T‐ALL cells were transformed using iPSC reprogramming factors (Sox‐2, Klf4, Oct4, and Myc) via nonintegrating Sendai virus. T‐iPSCs with the Notch1 mutation were then identified through genomic sequencing. Furthermore, T‐iPSCs resistant to 80 μM LY411575, a γ‐secretase and Notch signal inhibitor, were also established. We found a significant difference in the expression of drug resistance‐related genes between the drug‐resistant T‐iPSCs and drug‐sensitive groups. Among the 27 genes, six most differently expressed genes (DEGs) based on Log2FC >5 were identified. Knockdown analyses using RNA interference (RNAi) revealed that MAEL is the most important gene associated with drug resistance in T‐ALL cells. Also, MAEL knockdown downregulated expression of MRP and LRP in drug‐resistant T‐iPSCs. Interestingly, this phenomenon partially restored the sensitivity of the cells to LY411575. Furthermore, overexpression of the MAEL gene enhanced drug resistance against LY411575. Conclusively, MAEL promotes LY411575 resistance in T‐ALL cells increasing the expression of MRP and LRP genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Chen
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China.,Medical Laboratory of Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feiqiu Wen
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhu Li
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Weiran Li
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China.,Medical Laboratory of Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Meiling Zhou
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xizhuo Sun
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Pan Zhao
- Department of Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Chang Zou
- Department of Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Tumor Immunotherapy, Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
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25
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Tarannum M, Romee R, Shapiro RM. Innovative Strategies to Improve the Clinical Application of NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:859177. [PMID: 35401529 PMCID: PMC8990319 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.859177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer cells constitute a part of the innate immune system that mediates an effective immune response towards virus-infected and malignant cells. In recent years, research has focused on exploring and advancing NK cells as an active immunotherapy platform. Despite major advances, there are several key challenges that need to be addressed for the effective translation of NK cell research to clinical applications. This review highlights some of these challenges and the innovative strategies being developed to overcome them, including in vitro expansion, in vivo persistence, infiltration to the tumor site, and prevention of exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubin Tarannum
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rizwan Romee
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roman M Shapiro
- Division of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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26
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Fang F, Xie S, Chen M, Li Y, Yue J, Ma J, Shu X, He Y, Xiao W, Tian Z. Advances in NK cell production. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:460-481. [PMID: 34983953 PMCID: PMC8975878 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00808-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on natural killer (NK) cells is a promising approach for treating a variety of cancers. Unlike T cells, NK cells recognize target cells via a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent mechanism and, without being sensitized, kill the cells directly. Several strategies for obtaining large quantities of NK cells with high purity and high cytotoxicity have been developed. These strategies include the use of cytokine-antibody fusions, feeder cells or membrane particles to stimulate the proliferation of NK cells and enhance their cytotoxicity. Various materials, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), umbilical cord blood (UCB), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and NK cell lines, have been used as sources to generate NK cells for immunotherapy. Moreover, genetic modification technologies to improve the proliferation of NK cells have also been developed to enhance the functions of NK cells. Here, we summarize the recent advances in expansion strategies with or without genetic manipulation of NK cells derived from various cellular sources. We also discuss the closed, automated and GMP-controlled large-scale expansion systems used for NK cells and possible future NK cell-based immunotherapy products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Fang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Siqi Xie
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Minhua Chen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yutong Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Jingjing Yue
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Xun Shu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yongge He
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Weihua Xiao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Zhigang Tian
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Institute of Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Biotechnology Drugs Anhui, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
- Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
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Goldenson BH, Hor P, Kaufman DS. iPSC-Derived Natural Killer Cell Therapies - Expansion and Targeting. Front Immunol 2022; 13:841107. [PMID: 35185932 PMCID: PMC8851389 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.841107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of cancer with allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapies has seen rapid development, especially use against hematologic malignancies. Clinical trials of NK cell-based adoptive transfer to treat relapsed or refractory malignancies have used peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood and pluripotent stem cell-derived NK cells, with each approach undergoing continued clinical development. Improving the potency of these therapies relies on genetic modifications to improve tumor targeting and to enhance expansion and persistence of the NK cells. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK cells allow for routine targeted introduction of genetic modifications and expansion of the resulting NK cells derived from a clonal starting cell population. In this review, we discuss and summarize recent important advances in the development of new iPSC-derived NK cell therapies, with a focus on improved targeting of cancer. We then discuss improvements in methods to expand iPSC-derived NK cells and how persistence of iPSC-NK cells can be enhanced. Finally, we describe how these advances may combine in future NK cell-based therapy products for the treatment of both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Goldenson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Pooja Hor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Dan S Kaufman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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28
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Wu Y, Huang Z, Harrison R, Liu L, Zhu L, Situ Y, Wang Y. Engineering CAR T cells for enhanced efficacy and safety. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:011502. [PMID: 35071966 PMCID: PMC8769768 DOI: 10.1063/5.0073746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite its success in treating hematologic malignancies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy faces two major challenges which hinder its broader applications: the limited effectiveness against solid tumors and the nonspecific toxicities. To address these concerns, researchers have used synthetic biology approaches to develop optimization strategies. In this review, we discuss recent improvements on the CAR and other non-CAR molecules aimed to enhance CAR T cell efficacy and safety. We also highlight the development of different types of inducible CAR T cells that can be controlled by environmental cues and/or external stimuli. These advancements are bringing CAR T therapy one step closer to safer and wider applications, especially for solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqian Wu
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Ziliang Huang
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Reed Harrison
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Longwei Liu
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Linshan Zhu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yinglin Situ
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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Karvouni M, Vidal-Manrique M, Lundqvist A, Alici E. Engineered NK Cells Against Cancer and Their Potential Applications Beyond. Front Immunol 2022; 13:825979. [PMID: 35242135 PMCID: PMC8887605 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.825979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy is an innovative therapeutic concept where viable cells are implanted, infused, or grafted into a patient to treat impaired or malignant tissues. The term was first introduced circa the 19th century and has since resulted in multiple breakthroughs in different fields of medicine, such as neurology, cardiology, and oncology. Lately, cell and gene therapy are merging to provide cell products with additional or enhanced properties. In this context, adoptive transfer of genetically modified cytotoxic lymphocytes has emerged as a novel treatment option for cancer patients. To this day, five cell therapy products have been FDA approved, four of which for CD19-positive malignancies and one for B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-positive malignancies. These are personalized immunotherapies where patient T cells are engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with the aim to redirect the cells against tumor-specific antigens. CAR-T cell therapies show impressive objective response rates in clinical trials that, in certain instances, may reach up to 80%. However, the life-threatening side effects associated with T cell toxicity and the manufacturing difficulties of developing personalized therapies hamper their widespread use. Recent literature suggests that Natural Killer (NK) cells, may provide a safer alternative and an 'off-the-shelf' treatment option thanks to their potent antitumor properties and relatively short lifespan. Here, we will discuss the potential of NK cells in CAR-based therapies focusing on the applications of CAR-NK cells in cancer therapy and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Karvouni
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcos Vidal-Manrique
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lundqvist
- Department of Oncology‐Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evren Alici
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine-Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Immunotherapy for Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030843. [PMID: 35159109 PMCID: PMC8833963 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation in leukemia increase infection susceptibility, adverse side effects and immune cell inactivation. Natural killer (NK) cells are the first line of defense against cancer and are critical in the recognition and cytolysis of rapidly dividing and abnormal cell populations. In this review, we describe NK cells and NK cell receptors, functional impairment of NK cells in leukemia, NK cell immunotherapies currently under investigation including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), adoptive transfer, chimeric antigen receptor-NKs (CAR-NKs), bi-specific/tri-specific killer engagers (BiKEs/TriKEs) and potential targets of NK cell-mediated immunotherapy for leukemia in the future. Abstract Leukemia is a malignancy of the bone marrow and blood resulting from the abnormal differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). There are four main types of leukemia including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While chemotherapy and radiation have been conventional forms of treatment for leukemia, these therapies increase infection susceptibility, adverse side effects and immune cell inactivation. Immunotherapies are becoming promising treatment options for leukemia, with natural killer (NK) cell-mediated therapy providing a specific direction of interest. The role of NK cells is critical for cancer cell elimination as these immune cells are the first line of defense against cancer proliferation and are involved in both recognition and cytolysis of rapidly dividing and abnormal cell populations. NK cells possess various activating and inhibitory receptors, which regulate NK cell function, signaling either inhibition and continued surveillance, or activation and subsequent cytotoxic activity. In this review, we describe NK cells and NK cell receptors, functional impairment of NK cells in leukemia, NK cell immunotherapies currently under investigation, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), adoptive transfer, chimeric antigen receptor-NKs (CAR-NKs), bi-specific/tri-specific killer engagers (BiKEs/TriKEs) and future potential targets of NK cell-based immunotherapy for leukemia.
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Li YR, Dunn ZS, Zhou Y, Lee D, Yang L. Development of Stem Cell-Derived Immune Cells for Off-the-Shelf Cancer Immunotherapies. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123497. [PMID: 34944002 PMCID: PMC8700013 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-based cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies. Specifically, autologous chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapies have received approvals for treating leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma following unprecedented clinical response rates. A critical barrier to the widespread usage of current CAR-T cell products is their autologous nature, which renders these cellular products patient-selective, costly, and challenging to manufacture. Allogeneic cell products can be scalable and readily administrable but face critical concerns of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a life-threatening adverse event in which therapeutic cells attack host tissues, and allorejection, in which host immune cells eliminate therapeutic cells, thereby limiting their antitumor efficacy. In this review, we discuss recent advances in developing stem cell-engineered allogeneic cell therapies that aim to overcome the limitations of current autologous and allogeneic cell therapies, with a special focus on stem cell-engineered conventional αβ T cells, unconventional T (iNKT, MAIT, and γδ T) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Zachary Spencer Dunn
- Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Z.); (D.L.)
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (Y.-R.L.); (Y.Z.); (D.L.)
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Correspondence:
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Understanding and improving cellular immunotherapies against cancer: From cell-manufacturing to tumor-immune models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114003. [PMID: 34653533 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by dynamic metabolic and immune interactions between precancerous and cancerous tumor cells and stromal cells like epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and hematopoietically-derived immune cells. The metabolic states of the TME, including the hypoxic and acidic niches, influence the immunosuppressive phenotypes of the stromal and immune cells, which confers resistance to both host-mediated tumor killing and therapeutics. Numerous in vitro TME platforms for studying immunotherapies, including cell therapies, are being developed. However, we do not yet understand which immune and stromal components are most critical and how much model complexity is needed to answer specific questions. In addition, scalable sourcing and quality-control of appropriate TME cells for reproducibly manufacturing these platforms remain challenging. In this regard, lessons from the manufacturing of immunomodulatory cell therapies could provide helpful guidance. Although immune cell therapies have shown unprecedented results in hematological cancers and hold promise in solid tumors, their manufacture poses significant scale, cost, and quality control challenges. This review first provides an overview of the in vivo TME, discussing the most influential cell populations in the tumor-immune landscape. Next, we summarize current approaches for cell therapies against cancers and the relevant manufacturing platforms. We then evaluate current immune-tumor models of the TME and immunotherapies, highlighting the complexity, architecture, function, and cell sources. Finally, we present the technical and fundamental knowledge gaps in both cell manufacturing systems and immune-TME models that must be addressed to elucidate the interactions between endogenous tumor immunity and exogenous engineered immunity.
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Tang SY, Zha S, Du Z, Zeng J, Zhu D, Luo Y, Wang S. Targeted integration of EpCAM-specific CAR in human induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation into NK cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:580. [PMID: 34802459 PMCID: PMC8607711 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02648-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Redirection of natural killer (NK) cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) is attractive in developing off-the-shelf CAR therapeutics for cancer treatment. However, the site-specific integration of a CAR gene into NK cells remains challenging. Methods In the present study, we genetically modified human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with a zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology to introduce a cDNA encoding an anti-EpCAM CAR into the adeno-associated virus integration site 1, a “safe harbour” for transgene insertion into human genome, and next differentiated the modified iPSCs into CAR-expressing iNK cells. Results We detected the targeted integration in 4 out of 5 selected iPSC clones, 3 of which were biallelically modified. Southern blotting analysis revealed no random integration events. iNK cells were successfully derived from the modified iPSCs with a 47-day protocol, which were morphologically similar to peripheral blood NK cells, displayed NK phenotype (CD56+CD3-), and expressed NK receptors. The CAR expression of the iPSC-derived NK cells was confirmed with RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis. In vitro cytotoxicity assay further confirmed their lytic activity against NK cell-resistant, EpCAM-positive cancer cells, but not to EpCAM-positive normal cells, demonstrating the retained tolerability of the CAR-iNK cells towards normal cells. Conclusion Looking ahead, the modified iPSCs generated in the current study hold a great potential as a practically unlimited source to generate anti-EpCAM CAR iNK cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02648-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Yi Tang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.,Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
| | - Shijun Zha
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhicheng Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Jieming Zeng
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, 138669, Singapore
| | - Detu Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, Guangdong, China
| | - Yumei Luo
- Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, Guangdong, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
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Hsu LJ, Liu CL, Kuo ML, Shen CN, Shen CR. An Alternative Cell Therapy for Cancers: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-Derived Natural Killer Cells. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1323. [PMID: 34680440 PMCID: PMC8533510 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy is usually defined as the treatment or prevention of human disease by supplementation with cells that have been selected, manipulated, and pharmacologically treated or altered outside the body (ex vivo). Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), with their unique characteristics of indefinite expansion in cultures and genetic modifications, represent an ideal cell source for differentiation into specialized cell types. Cell therapy has recently become one of the most promising therapeutic approaches for cancers, and different immune cell types are selected as therapeutic platforms. Natural killer (NK) cells are shown to be effective tumor cell killers and do not cause graft-vs-host disease (GVHD), making them excellent candidates for, and facilitating the development of, "off-the-shelf" cell therapies. In this review, we summarize the progress in the past decade in the advent of iPSC technology and review recent developments in gene-modified iPSC-NK cells as readily available "off-the-shelf" cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jie Hsu
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- PhD Program in Biotechnology Industry, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Lin Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 243, Taiwan;
- Biochemical Technology R&D Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 243, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ling Kuo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- Center of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei 236, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ning Shen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan;
| | - Chia-Rui Shen
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan;
- PhD Program in Biotechnology Industry, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Center of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lin-Kou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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Euchner J, Sprissler J, Cathomen T, Fürst D, Schrezenmeier H, Debatin KM, Schwarz K, Felgentreff K. Natural Killer Cells Generated From Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Mature to CD56 brightCD16 +NKp80 +/- In-Vitro and Express KIR2DL2/DL3 and KIR3DL1. Front Immunol 2021; 12:640672. [PMID: 34017328 PMCID: PMC8129508 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.640672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into T and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes opens novel possibilities for developmental studies of immune cells and in-vitro generation of cell therapy products. In particular, iPSC-derived NK cells gained interest in adoptive anti-cancer immunotherapies, since they enable generation of homogenous populations of NK cells with and without genetic engineering that can be grown at clinical scale. However, the phenotype of in-vitro generated NK cells is not well characterized. NK cells derive in the bone marrow and mature in secondary lymphoid tissues through distinct stages from CD56brightCD16- to CD56dimCD16+ NK cells that represents the most abandoned population in peripheral blood. In this study, we efficiently generated CD56+CD16+CD3- NK lymphocytes from hiPSC and characterized NK-cell development by surface expression of NK-lineage markers. Hematopoietic priming of hiPSC resulted in 31.9% to 57.4% CD34+CD45+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) that did not require enrichment for NK lymphocyte propagation. HPC were further differentiated into NK cells on OP9-DL1 feeder cells resulting in high purity of CD56brightCD16- and CD56brightCD16+ NK cells. The output of generated NK cells increased up to 40% when OP9-DL1 feeder cells were inactivated with mitomycine C. CD7 expression could be detected from the first week of differentiation indicating priming towards the lymphoid lineage. CD56brightCD16-/+ NK cells expressed high levels of DNAM-1, CD69, natural killer cell receptors NKG2A and NKG2D, and natural cytotoxicity receptors NKp46, NKp44, NKp30. Expression of NKp80 on 40% of NK cells, and a perforin+ and granzyme B+ phenotype confirmed differentiation up to stage 4b. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor KIR2DL2/DL3 and KIR3DL1 were found on up to 3 and 10% of mature NK cells, respectively. NK cells were functional in terms of cytotoxicity, degranulation and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Euchner
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Sprissler
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Fürst
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hubert Schrezenmeier
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus Schwarz
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kerstin Felgentreff
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Islam R, Pupovac A, Evtimov V, Boyd N, Shu R, Boyd R, Trounson A. Enhancing a Natural Killer: Modification of NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051058. [PMID: 33946954 PMCID: PMC8146003 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are potent innate immune system effector lymphocytes armed with multiple mechanisms for killing cancer cells. Given the dynamic roles of NK cells in tumor surveillance, they are fast becoming a next-generation tool for adoptive immunotherapy. Many strategies are being employed to increase their number and improve their ability to overcome cancer resistance and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. These include the use of cytokines and synthetic compounds to bolster propagation and killing capacity, targeting immune-function checkpoints, addition of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to provide cancer specificity and genetic ablation of inhibitory molecules. The next generation of NK cell products will ideally be readily available as an “off-the-shelf” product and stem cell derived to enable potentially unlimited supply. However, several considerations regarding NK cell source, genetic modification and scale up first need addressing. Understanding NK cell biology and interaction within specific tumor contexts will help identify necessary NK cell modifications and relevant choice of NK cell source. Further enhancement of manufacturing processes will allow for off-the-shelf NK cell immunotherapies to become key components of multifaceted therapeutic strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasa Islam
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
| | - Aleta Pupovac
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Vera Evtimov
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Nicholas Boyd
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Runzhe Shu
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Richard Boyd
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Alan Trounson
- Cartherics Pty Ltd., Clayton 3168, Australia; (R.I.); (A.P.); (V.E.); (N.B.); (R.S.); (R.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Daher M, Melo Garcia L, Li Y, Rezvani K. CAR-NK cells: the next wave of cellular therapy for cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1274. [PMID: 33959279 PMCID: PMC8080297 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have revolutionised the field of cellular therapy for cancer. Despite its success, this strategy has some recognised limitations and toxicities. Hence, there is growing interest in developing novel cellular therapies based on non-αβ T-cell immune effector cells, including NK cells that offer clear advantages in cancer immunotherapy. As a result, NK cells are being explored as an alternative platform for CAR engineering and are becoming recognised as important players in the next generation of cellular therapies targeting cancer. In this review, we highlight preclinical and clinical studies of CAR-NK cells derived from different sources and discuss strategies under investigation to enhance the antitumor activity of these engineered innate immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Daher
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Luciana Melo Garcia
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Ye Li
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
| | - Katayoun Rezvani
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston TX USA
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