白血病,NK细胞 z-bo 2020-09-15 386

　　Recently, researchers from Los Angeles Children's Hospital confirmed that immune system cells derived from leukemia patients can multiply in the laboratory to create an army of natural killer cells (NK cells), which can be used to destroy cancer cells. The results of the in vitro study were published in the journal Leukemia. Perhaps one day, a less toxic and more effective treatment may appear to save children with cancer.

　　Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children. This disease hinders the development of healthy blood cells and exacerbates the proliferation of cancer cells. Currently, children with ALL receive chemotherapy within two to three years, but there will be significant side effects, including normal development and impaired future fertility.

　　In order to avoid these adverse effects, researchers have been studying how to use the human body's innate anti-cancer ability, that is, using a branch of the immune system, including a type of cell called natural killer (NK) cells to fight cancer. These natural killer (NK) cells can destroy abnormal cells before they transform into cancer cells.

　　However, the use of NK cells for immunotherapy has a challenge. If the cells come from other donors, cancer patients may reject the cells or worse, there is a risk of graft-versus-host disease. In order to avoid these problems, researchers want to know if NK cells come from the patient's own or autologous NK cells, whether it will eliminate the risks associated with donor cells.

　　In addition, can NK cells from leukemia patients be used to expand NK cells, even if there are only a few NK cells at the beginning? Can the patient's own NK cells attack their own leukemia and win the war?

　　In this study, using NK cells and ALL cells from the same child, it was found that natural killer cells destroy the leukemia cells of the patient. To help NK cells recognize leukemia cells, the researchers also added monoclonal antibodies. The antibodies designed and produced by researchers are called monoclonal antibodies (monoclonal antibodies), which can specifically target a certain protein found on cancer cells.

　　In past research, Heisterkamp showed that monoclonal antibodies target specific receptors (BAFF-R) on leukemia cells, which can stimulate NK cells to attack and kill cancer cells.