Preclinical development of three novel CARs targeting CD79b for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and characterization of the loss of the target antigen.

Background: Infusion of T cells modified with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD19 has achieved exceptional responses in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which led to the approval of CAR targeting CD19 (CART19) (Axi-cel and Liso-cel) as second line of treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory NHL. Unfortunately, 60% of patients still relapse after CART19 due to either a loss of expression of the target antigen (CD19) in the tumor cell, observed in 27% of relapsed patients, a limited CAR-T persistence, and additional mechanisms, including the suppression of the tumor microenvironment. Clinic strategies to prevent target antigen loss include sequential treatment with CARs directed at CD20 or CD22, which have caused loss of the second antigen, suggesting targeting other antigens less prone to disappear.

Degranulation assay to evaluate NK cell natural and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against A549 tumor spheroids.

Adoptive natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy is a promising treatment approach in cancer that is showing notable efficacy against hematological malignancies. However, the success of NK cell immunotherapy in patients with solid tumors is limited due to several barriers, which include the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), heterogeneity of tumor cells and poor NK cell infiltration into the tumor. Advances in 3D in vitro culture technologies have opened new avenues for the development of more physiological human cancer models that mimic important tumor features which are absent in traditional 2D studies and may be essential for the improvement of immunotherapies against solid tumors.

CD151 identifies an NK cell subset that is enriched in COVID-19 patients and correlates with disease severity.

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction, driven by a dysregulated immune response, including a cytokine storm with elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels. Natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate immune system with a fundamental role in the defense against viral infections. However, during COVID-19 acute infection, they exhibit an altered phenotype and impaired functionality contributing to the immunopathogenesis of the disease.

IL-12/15/18-induced cell death and mitochondrial dynamics of human NK cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes with potent antitumor functions and, consequently, several NK cell-based strategies have been developed for cancer immunotherapy. A remarkable therapeutic approach is the adoptive transfer of NK cells stimulated with IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18. This cytokine stimulation endows NK cells with properties that resemble immunological memory and, for this reason, they are known as cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML) NK cells.

Commercialized kits to assess T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 S peptides. A pilot study in health care workers.

Background: It is crucial to assess the levels of protection generated by natural infection or SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, mainly in individuals professionally exposed and in vulnerable groups. Measuring T-cell responses may complement antibody tests currently in use as correlates of protection. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of a validated assay of T-cell responses.

Commercialized kits to assess T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 S peptides. A pilot study in health care workers.

Background: It is crucial to assess the levels of protection generated by natural infection or SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, mainly in individuals professionally exposed and in vulnerable groups. Measuring T-cell responses may complement antibody tests currently in use as correlates of protection. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of a validated assay of T-cell responses.

A NKp80-Based Identification Strategy Reveals that CD56 NK Cells Are Not Completely Dysfunctional in Health and Disease.

Natural killer (NK) cells are usually identified by the absence of other lineage markers, due to the lack of cell-surface-specific receptors. CD56 NK cells, classically identified as CD56CD16+, are very scarce in the peripheral blood of healthy people but they expand in some pathological conditions. However, studies on CD56 NK cells had revealed different results regarding the phenotype and functionality.