New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology

doi:10.3390/biomedicines9091201

Review

. 2021 Sep 11;9(9):1201.

doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9091201.

New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology

Mehmet Gunduz¹, Pinar Ataca Atilla², Erden Atilla³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hematology, Biruni University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey.
² Interdisciplinary Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Ph.D Program, Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Ankara 06520, Turkey.
³ Department of Hematology, Mersin State Hospital, Korukent District, 96015 St., Toroslar 33240, Turkey.

PMID: 34572387
PMCID: PMC8466804
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091201

Review

New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology

Mehmet Gunduz et al. Biomedicines. 2021.

. 2021 Sep 11;9(9):1201.

doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9091201.

Authors

Mehmet Gunduz¹, Pinar Ataca Atilla², Erden Atilla³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hematology, Biruni University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey.
² Interdisciplinary Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Ph.D Program, Stem Cell Institute, Ankara University, Ankara 06520, Turkey.
³ Department of Hematology, Mersin State Hospital, Korukent District, 96015 St., Toroslar 33240, Turkey.

PMID: 34572387
PMCID: PMC8466804
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091201

Abstract

NK (Natural Killer) cell-mediated adoptive immunotherapy has gained attention in hematology due to the progressing knowledge of NK cell receptor structure, biology and function. Today, challenges related to NK cell expansion and persistence in vivo as well as low cytotoxicity have been mostly overcome by pioneering trials that focused on harnessing NK cell functions. Recent technological advancements in gene delivery, gene editing and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have made it possible to generate genetically modified NK cells that enhance the anti-tumor efficacy and represent suitable "off-the-shelf" products with fewer side effects. In this review, we highlight recent advances in NK cell biology along with current approaches for potentiating NK cell proliferation and activity, redirecting NK cells using CARs and optimizing the procedure to manufacture clinical-grade NK and CAR NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy.

Keywords: CAR NK cells; NK cells; adoptive immunotherapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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References

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1. Fang F., Xiao W., Tian Z. Challenges of NK cell-based immunotherapy in the newera. Front. Med. 2018;12:440–450. doi: 10.1007/s11684-018-0653-9. - DOI - PubMed
1. Abel A.M., Yang C., Thakar M.S., Malarkannan S. Natural killer cells: Development maturation and clinical utilization. Front. Immunol. 2018;9:1869. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01869. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Moretta L., Pietra G., Vacca P., Pende D., Moretta F., Bertaina A., Mingari M.C., Locatelli F., Moretta A. Human NK cells: From surface receptors to clinical applications. Immunol. Lett. 2016;178:15–19. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.05.007. - DOI - PubMed
1. Gong Y., Klein Wolterink R.G.J., Wang J., Bos G.M.J., Germeraad W.T.V. Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell design and engineering for cancer therapy. J. Hematol. Oncol. 2021;14:73. doi: 10.1186/s13045-021-01083-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Tanaka J., Miller J.S. Recent progress in and challenges in cellular therapy using NK cells for hematological malignancies. Blood Rev. 2020;44:100678. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100678. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Tanaka J., Miller J.S. Recent progress in and challenges in cellular therapy using NK cells for hematological malignancies. Blood Rev. 2020;44:100678. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100678. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Fang F., Xiao W., Tian Z. Challenges of NK cell-based immunotherapy in the newera. Front. Med. 2018;12:440–450. doi: 10.1007/s11684-018-0653-9. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Fang F., Xiao W., Tian Z. Challenges of NK cell-based immunotherapy in the newera. Front. Med. 2018;12:440–450. doi: 10.1007/s11684-018-0653-9. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Abel A.M., Yang C., Thakar M.S., Malarkannan S. Natural killer cells: Development maturation and clinical utilization. Front. Immunol. 2018;9:1869. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01869. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Abel A.M., Yang C., Thakar M.S., Malarkannan S. Natural killer cells: Development maturation and clinical utilization. Front. Immunol. 2018;9:1869. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01869. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Moretta L., Pietra G., Vacca P., Pende D., Moretta F., Bertaina A., Mingari M.C., Locatelli F., Moretta A. Human NK cells: From surface receptors to clinical applications. Immunol. Lett. 2016;178:15–19. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.05.007. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Moretta L., Pietra G., Vacca P., Pende D., Moretta F., Bertaina A., Mingari M.C., Locatelli F., Moretta A. Human NK cells: From surface receptors to clinical applications. Immunol. Lett. 2016;178:15–19. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.05.007. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Gong Y., Klein Wolterink R.G.J., Wang J., Bos G.M.J., Germeraad W.T.V. Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell design and engineering for cancer therapy. J. Hematol. Oncol. 2021;14:73. doi: 10.1186/s13045-021-01083-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Gong Y., Klein Wolterink R.G.J., Wang J., Bos G.M.J., Germeraad W.T.V. Chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell design and engineering for cancer therapy. J. Hematol. Oncol. 2021;14:73. doi: 10.1186/s13045-021-01083-5. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology

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New Orders to an Old Soldier: Optimizing NK Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy in Hematology

Authors

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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