Enhanced cytotoxicity of natural killer cells following the acquisition of chimeric antigen receptors through trogocytosis

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 14;9(10):e109352. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109352. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells have the capacity to target tumors and are ideal candidates for immunotherapy. Viral vectors have been used to genetically modify in vitro expanded NK cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which confer cytotoxicity against tumors. However, use of viral transduction methods raises the safety concern of viral integration into the NK cell genome. In this study, we used trogocytosis as a non-viral method to modify NK cells for immunotherapy. A K562 cell line expressing high levels of anti-CD19 CARs was generated as a donor cell to transfer the anti-CD19 CARs onto NK cells via trogocytosis. Anti-CD19 CAR expression was observed in expanded NK cells after these cells were co-cultured for one hour with freeze/thaw-treated donor cells expressing anti-CD19 CARs. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the localization of the anti-CD19 CARs on the NK cell surface. Acquisition of anti-CD19 CARs via trogocytosis enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against the B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cell lines and primary B-ALL cells derived from patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the increased cytotoxicity of NK cells following the acquisition of CARs via trogocytosis. This novel strategy could be a potential valuable therapeutic approach for the treatment of B-cell tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD19 / genetics
  • Antigens, CD19 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • K562 Cells
  • Killer Cells, Natural / cytology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Receptors, Antigen

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from National Health Research Institutes (PS9808, http://english.nhri.org.tw/NHRI_WEB/nhriw001Action.do), and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (VGHKS 102-104 and 103-123, http://www.vghks.gov.tw/English/) to YHC. This work is also supported in part by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan (MOHW103-TD-B-111-01), http://www.mohw.gov.tw/EN/Ministry/Index.aspx) to SKL. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.