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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Lung Cancer | Research

Co-expression of IL-21-Enhanced NKG2D CAR-NK cell therapy for lung cancer

Authors: Yan Zhang, Cong Zhang, Minghong He, Weipeng Xing, Rui Hou, Haijin Zhang

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Background

Adoptive cell therapy has achieved great success in treating hematological malignancies. However, the production of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy still faces various difficulties. Natural killer (NK)-92 is a continuously expandable cell line and provides a promising alternative for patient’s own immune cells.

Methods

We established CAR-NK cells by co-expressing natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) and IL-21, and evaluated the efficacy of NKG2D-IL-21 CAR-NK cells in treating lung cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Our data suggested that the expression of IL-21 effectively increased the cytotoxicity of NKG2D CAR-NK cells against lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the proliferation of NKG2D-IL-21 CAR-NK cells were enhanced while the apoptosis and exhaustion of these cells were suppressed. Mechanistically, IL-21-mediated NKG2D CAR-NK cells function by activating AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Our findings provide a novel option for treating lung cancer using NKG2D-IL-21 CAR-NK cell therapy.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Co-expression of IL-21-Enhanced NKG2D CAR-NK cell therapy for lung cancer
Authors
Yan Zhang
Cong Zhang
Minghong He
Weipeng Xing
Rui Hou
Haijin Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11806-1

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