Harnessing IL-15 signaling to potentiate NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy

Shoubao Ma; Michael A Caligiuri; Jianhua Yu

doi:10.1016/j.it.2022.08.004

Harnessing IL-15 signaling to potentiate NK cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy

Trends Immunol. 2022 Oct;43(10):833-847. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2022.08.004. Epub 2022 Sep 1.

Authors

Shoubao Ma¹, Michael A Caligiuri², Jianhua Yu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA.
² Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA. Electronic address: mcaligiuri@coh.org.
³ Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA; Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA. Electronic address: jiayu@coh.org.

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells, a crucial component of the innate immune system, have long been of clinical interest for their antitumor properties. Almost every aspect of NK cell immunity is regulated by interleukin-15 (IL-15), a cytokine in the common γ-chain family. Several current clinical trials are using IL-15 or its analogs to treat various cancers. Moreover, NK cells are being genetically modified to produce membrane-bound or secretory IL-15. Here, we discuss the key role of IL-15 signaling in NK cell immunity and provide an up-to-date overview of IL-15 in NK cell therapy.

Keywords: CAR NK cells; cancer immunotherapy; interleukin-15; natural killer cells.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Cytokines
Humans
Immunotherapy
Interleukin-15*
Killer Cells, Natural
Neoplasms* / therapy

Substances

Cytokines
Interleukin-15

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding