Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Transarterial Administration of Oncolytic Viruses for Locoregional Therapy of Orthotopic HCC in Rats
08:55

Transarterial Administration of Oncolytic Viruses for Locoregional Therapy of Orthotopic HCC in Rats

Published on: April 15, 2016

10.0K

Complex role of NK cells in regulation of oncolytic virus-bortezomib therapy

Yangjin Kim1,2, Ji Young Yoo3, Tae Jin Lee3

  • 1Mathematical Biosciences Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|April 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that natural killer (NK) cells enhance cancer treatment efficacy. Depleting or injecting NK cells boosts the effectiveness of oncolytic virus and bortezomib combination therapy against tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for cancer immunity, combating both metastatic and hematological cancers.
  • NK cells can overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
  • Oncolytic viruses (OVs) and bortezomib are emerging cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of NK cells in combination therapy with OVs and bortezomib.
  • To determine how NK cell density impacts tumor growth.
  • To model the interplay between NK cells, OVs, and bortezomib in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a mathematical model to simulate NK cell density and tumor growth.
  • In vitro experiments to assess therapeutic effects.
  • In vivo experiments to validate model predictions.

Main Results:

  • Mathematical model predicted increased antitumor efficacy with NK cell modulation.
  • Both depletion of endogenous NK cells and injection of exogenous NK cells enhanced treatment outcomes.
  • Experimental validation confirmed the model's predictions regarding NK cell roles.

Conclusions:

  • NK cell density is a critical factor in the efficacy of combined OV and bortezomib cancer therapy.
  • Modulating NK cell populations (depletion or augmentation) can significantly improve antitumor responses.
  • This research provides a foundation for optimizing NK cell-based combination cancer treatments.
Keywords:
NK cellsbortezomiboncolytic viruspartial differential equations modelstumor microenvironment

More Related Videos

Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy08:51

Genome-wide RNAi Screening to Identify Host Factors That Modulate Oncolytic Virus Therapy

Published on: April 3, 2018

9.5K
Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses12:08

Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses

Published on: June 25, 2011

13.4K

Related Concept Videos

Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
16.9K
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
8.9K
Regulated Protein Degradation02:58

Regulated Protein Degradation

It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
8.9K
Gene Therapy00:59

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.7K
pH Regulation in Cells01:28

pH Regulation in Cells

pH plays a critical role in maintaining normal cellular activities. It helps maintain the structure and function of various proteins, dictates the charge on cellular membranes, and is crucial for metabolic reactions inside the cell. Moreover, cells use the energy from the proton motive force to generate ATP.
Cytosolic pH
Under physiological conditions, the cytosolic pH is slightly more acidic than the extracellular pH. However, cells must prevent further acidification of their cytosol to...
7.8K
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

Overview
128.4K