High-Risk Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Role of NK Cells

Joint Authors

Mavers, Melissa
Bertaina, Alice

Source

Journal of Immunology Research

Issue

Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-12, 12 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2018-04-15

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

12

Main Subjects

Biology

Abstract EN

Natural killer (NK) cells are a population of cytotoxic innate lymphocytes that evolved prior to their adaptive counterparts and constitute one of the first lines of defense against infected/mutated cells.

Several studies have shown that in patients with acute leukemia given haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor-derived NK cells play a key role in the eradication of cancer cells.

The antileukemic effect is mostly related to the presence of “alloreactive” NK cells, that is, mature KIR+ NK cells that express inhibitory KIR mismatched with HLA class I (KIR-L) of the patient.

A genotypic analysis detecting KIR B haplotype and the relative B content is an additional donor selection criterion.

These data provided the rationale for implementing phase I/II clinical trials of adoptive infusion of either selected or ex vivo-activated NK cells, often from an HLA-mismatched donor.

In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the role played by NK cells in patients with acute leukemia, focusing also on the various approaches to adoptive NK cell therapy and the unresolved issues therein.

In addition, we outline new methods to enhance NK activity, including anti-KIR monoclonal antibody, bi-/trispecific antibodies linking NK cells to cytokines and/or target antigens, and CAR-engineered NK cells.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Mavers, Melissa& Bertaina, Alice. 2018. High-Risk Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Role of NK Cells. Journal of Immunology Research،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1191636

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Mavers, Melissa& Bertaina, Alice. High-Risk Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Role of NK Cells. Journal of Immunology Research No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1191636

American Medical Association (AMA)

Mavers, Melissa& Bertaina, Alice. High-Risk Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Role of NK Cells. Journal of Immunology Research. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1191636

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-1191636