Ram DR, Manickam C, Lucar O, Shah S, Reeves RK. Adaptive NK cell responses in HIV/SIV infections: A roadmap to cell-based therapeutics?
J Leukoc Biol 2019;
105:1253-1259. [PMID:
30730588 PMCID:
PMC6536345 DOI:
10.1002/jlb.mr0718-303r]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells play a critical role in antiviral and antitumor responses. Although current NK cell immune therapies have focused primarily on cancer biology, many of these advances can be readily applied to target HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected cells. Promising developments include recent reports that CAR NK cells are capable of targeted responses while producing less off-target and toxic side effects than are associated with CAR T cell therapies. Further, CAR NK cells derived from inducible pluripotent stem cells or cell lines may allow for more rapid "off-the-shelf" access. Other work investigating the IL-15 superagonist ALT-803 (now N803) may also provide a recourse for enhancing NK cell responses in the context of the immunosuppressive and inflammatory environment of chronic HIV/SIV infections, leading to enhanced control of viremia. With a broader acceptance of research supporting adaptive functions in NK cells it is likely that novel immunotherapeutics and vaccine modalities will aim to generate virus-specific memory NK cells. In doing so, better targeted NK cell responses against virus-infected cells may usher in a new era of NK cell-tuned immune therapy.
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