Pregnancy trained decidual NK cells protect pregnancies from harmful Fusobacterium nucleatum infection

Natural killer cells (NKs) found during pregnancy at the maternal-fetal interface named decidual (d)NKs, show signs of education following first pregnancy, resulting in better placentation and fetus-growth, hence termed pregnancy trained dNKs (PTdNKs). Here we show that PTdNKs provide increased protection of the fetus from Fusobacterium nucleatum (FN) infection. We demonstrate that PTdNKs secrete elevated amounts of the bacteriocidal protein granulysin (GNLY) upon incubation with FN compared to dNKs derived from first pregnancies, which leads to increased killing of FN. Furthermore, we showed mechanistically that the GNLY secretion is mediated through the interaction of the FN's Fap2 protein with Gal-GalNAc present on PTdNKs. Finally, we show in vivo, using GNLY-tg mice that enhanced protection of the fetuses from FN infection is observed, as compared to wild type and that this enhance protection is NK cell dependent. Altogether, we show a new function for PTdNKs as protectors of the fetus from bacterial infection.

Eradication of CD48-positive tumors by selectively enhanced YTS cells harnessing the lncRNA NeST

Natural killer (NK) cells are currently used in clinical trials to treat tumors. However, such therapies still suffer from problems such as donor variability, reproducibility, and more, which prevent a wider use of NK cells therapeutics. Here we show a potential immunotherapy combining NK cell-mediated tumor eradiation and long non-coding (lnc) RNAs. We overexpressed the interferon (IFN) γ secretion-enhancing lncRNA nettoie Salmonella pas Theiler's (NeST) in the NK cell-like cell line YTS. YTS cells express the co-stimulatory receptor 2B4 whose main ligand is CD48. On YTS cells, 2B4 functions by direct activation. We showed that NeST overexpression in YTS cells resulted in increased IFNγ release upon interaction with CD48 (selectively enhanced (se)YTS cells). Following irradiation, the seYTS cells lost proliferation capacity but were still able to maintain their killing and IFNγ secretion capacities. Finally, we demonstrated that irradiated seYTS inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Thus, we propose seYTS cells as off-the-shelve therapy for CD48-expressing tumors.

NK Cells Under Hypoxia: The Two Faces of Vascularization in Tumor and Pregnancy

Environmental conditions greatly shape the phenotype and function of immune cells. Specifically, hypoxic conditions that exist within tissues and organs have been reported to affect both the adaptive and the innate immune system. Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system. They are among the first immune cells responding to infections and are involved in tumor surveillance. NK cells produce cytokines that shape other innate and adaptive immune cells, and they produce cytolytic molecules leading to target cell killing. Therefore, they are not only involved in steady state tissue homeostasis, but also in pathogen and tumor clearance. Hence, understanding the role of NK cells in pathological and physiological immune biology is an emerging field. To date, it remains incompletely understood how the tissue microenvironment shapes NK cell phenotype and function. In particular, the impact of low oxygen concentrations in tissues on NK cell reactivity has not been systematically dissected. Here, we present a comprehensive review focusing on two highly compelling hypoxic tissue environments, the tumor microenvironment (pathological) and the decidua (physiological) and compare their impact on NK cell reactivity.

NK-92 cells retain vitality and functionality when grown in standard cell culture conditions

NK-92 cells are an off-the-shelf, cell-based immunotherapy currently in clinical trials for a variety of cancer types. As the most 'NK-like' cell line available, it is also an important research tool. To date, NK-92 cells have been cultivated in a costly and time-consumingly prepared specialized medium, complicating research with these cells. Here we show that NK-92 cells grow in the comparatively user-friendly RPMI medium supplemented with IL-2. We demonstrate that their metabolic activity and replication rates are even improved in RPMI. Furthermore, they can be grown in cell culture dishes and do not need to be expanded in ventilated flasks. We show that in RPMI the cells retain functional characteristics relating to receptor expression, IFN-γ secretion, and killing. Our findings will enable more researchers to work with and manipulate this cell line, hopefully leading to further discoveries and improved therapies.

Obinutuzumab activates FcγRI more potently than other anti-CD20 antibodies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Treatment with monoclonal antibodies has revolutionized clinical medicine, especially in the fields of cancer and immunology. One of the oldest antibodies, which is widely used for the treatment of lymphomas and autoimmune diseases, is the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. In recent years, new antibodies against CD20 have been developed including ofatumumab and obinutuzumab. An important mechanism of action of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies is activation of immune cells via Fc receptors (FcγRs). However, surprisingly, little is known about triggering of FcγRs by different therapeutic antibodies in general and anti-CD20 antibodies in particular. Here we establish a reporter assay to assess whether a particular antibody activates a certain Fc receptor. Using this assay we corroborated previous reports demonstrating obinutuzumab's ability to highly activate FcγRIIIa (CD16a). Importantly, we discovered that obinutuzumab also activates FcγRI (CD64) significantly more than rituximab and ofatumumab in response to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells obtained from patients. Mechanistically we show that this is due to the lack of FcγRIIb-mediated internalization of obinutuzumab following binding to CD20. Moreover, we show that obinutuzumab induces increased phagocytosis by primary macrophages in an FcγRI-dependent manner. Beyond the discovery of a new mechanism of obinutuzumab activity, the reporter assay can be applied to other therapeutic antibodies and may assist in developing antibodies with improved immunological properties.