Utilizing Cytokines to Function-Enable Human NK Cells for the Immunotherapy of Cancer
Figure 2
Overview of human cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells. Human NK cells preactivated with IL-12+IL-15+IL-18 for 16 hours return to a basal activation status. Weeks later CIML NK cells have evidence of proliferation and increased expression of CD69, NKG2D, granzyme B, and CD25, compared to control IL-15 preactivated NK cells. When CIML NK cells are restimulated, they exhibit enhanced functional responses, including cytokine production and cytotoxicity against leukemia targets. Similar results are observed when preactivated or control human NK cells are adoptively transferred into immunodeficient NOD- mice and evaluated 7 days later for in vivo persistence and enhanced functionality.
