Andrea Velardi1, Loredana Ruggeri, Antonella Mancusi. 1. Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. velardi@unipg.it
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on advances in the field of natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity as a form of immunotherapy in the setting of allogeneic haematopoietic transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research has focused on mechanisms underlying the acquisition of function by NK cells after haematopoietic transplantation, on the therapeutic impact of NK-cell alloreactivity in various forms of transplantation and in adoptive immunotherapy. Finally, studies have highlighted the role of NK-cell responses in viral infections after transplantation. SUMMARY: Donor-versus-recipient NK-cell alloreactivity is established as a key therapeutic element in human leukocyte antigen haplotype-mismatched haematopoietic transplants in adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). NK-cell allotherapy for leukaemia is deployed through stem cell transplantation (and ensuing NK-cell reconstitution) across killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ligand mismatches. Donor-derived NK cells were also reported to respond to cytomegalovirus by acquiring features that are reminiscent of the specificity and memory of adaptive (T-cell) immune responses. As NK cells are the earliest immune cells to recover after transplant, this observation suggests they may contribute to controlling viral reactivation early after transplant.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on advances in the field of natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity as a form of immunotherapy in the setting of allogeneic haematopoietic transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research has focused on mechanisms underlying the acquisition of function by NK cells after haematopoietic transplantation, on the therapeutic impact of NK-cell alloreactivity in various forms of transplantation and in adoptive immunotherapy. Finally, studies have highlighted the role of NK-cell responses in viral infections after transplantation. SUMMARY:Donor-versus-recipient NK-cell alloreactivity is established as a key therapeutic element in human leukocyte antigen haplotype-mismatched haematopoietic transplants in adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). NK-cell allotherapy for leukaemia is deployed through stem cell transplantation (and ensuing NK-cell reconstitution) across killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ligand mismatches. Donor-derived NK cells were also reported to respond to cytomegalovirus by acquiring features that are reminiscent of the specificity and memory of adaptive (T-cell) immune responses. As NK cells are the earliest immune cells to recover after transplant, this observation suggests they may contribute to controlling viral reactivation early after transplant.
Authors: Mark D Bunting; Antiopi Varelias; Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes; Iona S Schuster; Katie E Lineburg; Rachel D Kuns; Peter Fleming; Kelly R Locke; Nicholas D Huntington; Bruce R Blazar; Steven W Lane; Siok-Keen Tey; Kelli P A MacDonald; Mark J Smyth; Mariapia A Degli-Esposti; Geoffrey R Hill Journal: Blood Date: 2016-12-07 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Ivy T Tran; Ashley R Sandy; Alexis J Carulli; Christen Ebens; Jooho Chung; Gloria T Shan; Vedran Radojcic; Ann Friedman; Thomas Gridley; Amy Shelton; Pavan Reddy; Linda C Samuelson; Minhong Yan; Christian W Siebel; Ivan Maillard Journal: J Clin Invest Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 14.808