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Cancer immunotherapy with natural killer cells
1University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582, USA.
Seminars in Oncology
|June 18, 2002
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells show promise in cancer immunotherapy but are suppressed in tumors. Histamine may boost NK cell activity by inhibiting reactive oxygen species, offering potential therapeutic benefits.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes crucial for innate immunity against tumors and viral infections.
- NK cell cytotoxicity is enhanced by cytokines like IL-2 and IFN-α in vitro.
- NK cell-based immunotherapy has shown inconsistent antitumor effects in vivo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the suppression of NK cell activity in tumor microenvironments.
- To explore the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in NK cell suppression.
- To evaluate the potential of ROS inhibitors, like histamine, as immunoadjuvants.
Main Methods:
- Review of NK cell biology and function.
- Analysis of factors suppressing NK cell activity in tumors.
- Discussion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by monocytes/macrophages.
- Exploration of histamine's mechanism in modulating NK cell function.
Main Results:
- NK cell activity is suppressed in tumor tissues by factors including ROS.
- Monocytes and macrophages are sources of ROS that inhibit NK cells.
- Histamine, an ROS inhibitor, may counteract this suppression.
Conclusions:
- NK cell suppression in tumors is a significant hurdle for immunotherapy.
- Inhibiting ROS production presents a therapeutic strategy to enhance NK cell function.
- Histamine shows potential as an immunoadjuvant to augment NK cell-mediated antitumor responses.