Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived engineered T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells in

Dixuan Xue1, Shan Lu1, Hailing Zhang1

  • 1Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Zhejiang Laboratory for Systems and Precision Medicine, Zhejiang University Medical Center, 1369 West Wen Yi Road, Hangzhou 311121, China.

T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages (Macs), and dendritic cells (DCs) are among the most common sources for immune-cell-based therapies for cancer. Antitumor activity can be enhanced in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived immune cells by using iPSCs as a platform for stable genetic modifications that impact immuno-activating or -suppressive signaling pathways, such as transducing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or deletion of immunosuppressive checkpoint molecules. This review outlines the utility of four iPSC-derived immune-cell-based therapies, highlight the latest progress and future trends in the genome-editing strategies designed to improve efficacy, safety, and universality, and provides perspectives that compare different contexts in which each of these iPSC-derived immune cell types can be most effectively used.

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