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In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of T, B and Myeloid Cells Suppressive Activity and Humoral Responses from Transplant Recipients
Published on: August 12, 2017
Natural killer cell immunity after transplantation.
Grzegorz Terszowski1, Jakob R Passweg, Martin Stern
1Immunotherapy Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. grzegorz.terszowski@unibas.ch
Swiss Medical Weekly
|November 9, 2012
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial in transplant immunology. Activating killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) on NK cells can improve graft-versus-tumour responses and reduce relapse after stem cell transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Science
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Transplantation immunology traditionally focused on T- and B-cell responses.
- Natural killer (NK) cells are increasingly recognized for their significant role in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcomes.
- NK cells identify cellular stress via activating receptors and are regulated by inhibitory receptors interacting with human leukocyte antigens (HLA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of natural killer (NK) cells, particularly killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), in transplant immunology.
- To investigate the impact of activating KIR/HLA interactions on graft-versus-tumour reactions and disease relapse.
- To explore strategies for enhancing anti-tumour immunity through NK cell-based therapies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of KIR/HLA interactions in stem cell transplantation.
- Evaluation of NK cell alloreactivity and its impact on graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-tumour effects.
- Review of recent data on activating KIR receptor gene frequencies and their correlation with patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- Differences in inhibitory KIR/HLA interactions can drive beneficial NK cell alloreactivity, leading to graft-versus-tumour reactions without graft-versus-host disease.
- Activating KIR, such as KIR2DS1, may contribute to anti-tumour immunity, with specific HLA-C2 ligand expression enhancing protection against post-transplant relapse.
- Patients with donors possessing more activating KIR genes show reduced relapse rates after stem cell transplantation.
Conclusions:
- NK cells are established as critical players in transplant immunology, significantly influencing hematopoietic stem cell graft outcomes.
- Activating KIR receptors play a potentially important role in anti-tumour immunity post-transplantation.
- Further research into NK cell function and adoptive transfer strategies may improve tumour control in transplant patients.
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