Cytokine-induced killer (ClK) cells:from basic research to clinical translation

The accumulation of basic researches and clinical studies related to cytokine-induced killer(CIK) cells has confirmed their safety and feasibility in treating malignant diseases.This review summarizes the available published literature related to the biological characteristics and clinical applications of CIK cells in recent years.A number of clinical trials with CIK cells have been implemented during the progressive phases of cancer,presenting potential widespread applications of CIK cells for the future.Furthermore,this review briefly compares clinical applications of CIK cells with those of other adoptive immunotherapeutic cells.However,at present,there are no uniform criteria or large-scale preparations of CIK cells.The overall clinical response is difficult to evaluate because of the use of autologous CIK cells.Based on these observations,several suggestions regarding uniform criteria and universal sources for CIK cell preparations and the use of CIK cells either combined with chemotherapy or alone as a primary strategy are briefly proposed in this review.Large-scale,controlled,grouped,and multi-center clinical trials on CIK cell-based immunotherapy should be conducted under strict supervision.These interventions might help to improve future clinical applications and increase the clinical curative effects of CIK cells for a broad range of malignancies in the future.

Immunotherapy with dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells for hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) has been revealed as the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The introduction of cell-based immunotherapy, including dendritic cells(DCs) and cytokine-induced killer cells(CIKs), has brought HCC patients an effective benefit. However, the efficacy and necessity of cellular immunotherapy after different interventional therapy remains to be further explored.AIM To investigate the efficacy of cellular immunotherapy, involving DCs and CIKs,combined with different conventional treatments of HCC.METHODS We performed a literature search on PubMed and Web of Science up to February15, 2019. Long-term efficacy(overall survival and recurrence) and short-term adverse effects were investigated to assess the effectiveness of immunotherapy with DCs and/or CIKs. Review Manager 5.3 was used to perform the analysis.RESULTS A total of 22 studies involving 3756 patients selected by eligibility inclusion criteria were forwarded for meta-analysis. Combined with the conventional clinical treatment, immunotherapy with DCs and/or CIKs was demonstrated to significantly improve overall survival at 6 mo [risk ratio(RR) = 1.07;95%confidence interval(CI): 1.01-1.13, P = 0.02], 1 year(RR = 1.12;95%CI: 1.07-1.17, P< 0.00001), 3 years(RR = 1.23;95%CI: 1.15-1.31, P < 0.00001) and 5 years(RR =1.26;95%CI: 1.15-1.37, P < 0.00001). Recurrence rate was significantly reduced by cellular immunotherapy at 6 mo(RR = 0.50;95%CI: 0.36-0.69, P < 0.0001) and 1 year(RR = 0.82;95%CI: 0.75-0.89, P < 0.00001). Adverse effect assessment addressed that immunotherapy with DCs and/or CIKs was accepted as a safe,feasible treatment.CONCLUSION Combination immunotherapy with DCs, CIKs and DC/CIK with various routine treatments for HCC was evidently suggested to improve patients’ prognosis by increasing overall survival and reducing cancer recurrence.

Intraperitoneal perfusion of cytokine-induced killer cells with local hyperthermia for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM:To study the effect and tolerance of intraperitoneal perfusion of cytokine-induced killer(CIK) cells in combination with local radio frequency(RF) hyperthermia in patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:Patients with advanced primary HCC were included in this study.CIK cells were perfused intraperitoneal twice a week,using 3.2 × 10 9 to 3.6 × 10 9 cells each session.Local RF hyperthermia was performed 2 h after intraperitoneal perfusion.Following an interval of one month,the next course of treatment was administered.Patients received treatment until disease progression.Tumor size,immune indices(CD3 +,CD4 +,CD3 + CD8 +,CD3 + CD56 +),alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) level,abdominal circumference and adverse events were recorded.Time to progression and overall survival(OS) were calculated.RESULTS:From June 2010 to July 2011,31 patients diagnosed with advanced primary HCC received intraperitoneal perfusion of CIK cells in combination with local RF hyperthermia in our study.Patients received an average of 4.2 ± 0.6 treatment courses(range,1-8 courses).Patients were followed up for 8.3 ± 0.7 mo(range,2-12 mo).Following combination treatment,CD4 +,CD3 + CD8 + and CD3 + CD56 + cells increased from 35.78% ± 3.51%,24.61% ± 4.19% and 5.94% ± 0.87% to 45.83% ± 2.48%(P = 0.016),39.67% ± 3.38%(P = 0.008) and 10.72% ± 0.67%(P = 0.001),respectively.AFP decreased from 167.67 ± 22.44 to 99.89 ± 22.05 ng/mL(P = 0.001) and abdominal circumference decreased from 97.50 ± 3.45 cm to 87.17 ± 4.40 cm(P = 0.002).The disease control rate was 67.7%.The most common adverse events were low fever and slight abdominal erubescence,which resolved without treatment.The median time to progression was 6.1 mo.The 3-,6-and 9-mo and 1-year survival rates were 93.5%,77.4%,41.9% and 17.4%,respectively.The median OS was 8.5 mo.CONCLUSION:Intraperitoneal perfusion of CIK cells in combination with local RF hyperthermia is safe,can efficiently improve immunological status,and may prolong survival in HCC patients.

Effect of anti-asthma Chinese medicine Chuankezhi on the anti-tumor activity of cytokine-induced killer cells

Chuankezhi(CKZ),a new Chinese medicine,plays an important role in immunoregulation.Cytokineinduced killer(CIK)cells have been commonly used for immunotherapy in recent years.In this study,we aimed to investigate the immunoregulatory effect of CKZ on CIK cells.Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy donors,and CIK cells were generated by culturing monocytes with interferon-gamma(IFN-γ)and interleukin 2.Different concentrations of CKZ were added on day 2.After incubation for 14days in culture,the antitumor effects of CIK cells were measured by cytotoxicity assay.Flow cytometry was used to explore the effect of CKZ on CIK cell immunophenotype,intracellular cytokine production,and apoptosis.The effect of CKZ on the antitumor activity of CIK cells in nude mice was also investigated.CKZ increased the percentage of CD3+CD56+CIK cells but did not significantly change the percentage of CD4+,CD8+,or CD4+CD25+CIK cells.CKZ-conditioned CIK cells showed a greater ability to kill tumor cells,as well as a higher frequency of IFN-γand TNF-αproduction,compared with the CIK cells in the control group.CKZ also suppressed the apoptosis of CIK cells in vitro.Furthermore,CKZ combined with CIK cells had a stronger suppressive effect on tumor growth in vivo than the CIK,CKZ,or normal saline control groups.Our results indicate that CKZ enhances the antitumor activity of CIK cells and is a potential medicine for tumor immunotherapy.

Adjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer: a retrospective study of immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer cells in 294 patients

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of a sequential combination of chemotherapy and autologous cytokine-induced killer(CIK) cell treatment in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC) patients.Methods: A total of 294 post-surgery TNBC patients participated in the research from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2015. After adjuvant chemotherapy, autologous CIK cells were introduced in 147 cases(CIK group), while adjuvant chemotherapy alone was used to treat the remaining 147 cases(control group). The major endpoints of the investigation were the disease-free survival(DFS) and overall survival(OS). Additionally, the side effects of the treatment were evaluated.Results: In the CIK group, the DFS and OS intervals of the patients were significantly longer than those of the control group(DFS:P = 0.047;OS: P = 0.007). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the TNM(tumor-node-metastasis) stage and adjuvant CIK treatment were independent prognostic factors for both DFS [hazard ratio(HR)= 0.520, 95% confidence interval(CI):0.271-0.998, P = 0.049;HR = 1.449, 95% CI:1.118-1.877, P = 0.005, respectively] and OS(HR=0.414, 95% CI:0.190-0.903, P = 0.027;HR= 1.581, 95% CI:1.204-2.077, P = 0.001, respectively) in patients with TNBC. Additionally, longer DFS and OS intervals were associated with increased number of CIK treatment cycles(DFS: P = 0.020;OS: P = 0.040). The majority of the patients who benefitted from CIK cell therapy were relatively early-stage TNBC patients.Conclusion: Chemotherapy in combination with adjuvant CIK could be used to lower the relapse and metastasis rate, thus effectively extending the survival time of TNBC patients, especially those at early stages.

Hepatocellular carcinoma-specific immunotherapy with synthesized α1,3-galactosyl epitope-ulsed dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells

AIM： To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of a new immunotherapy using both α-Gal epitope-pulsed dendritic cells （DCs） and cytokine-induced killer cells. METHODS： Freshly collected hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tumor tissues were incubated with a mixture of neuraminidase and recombinant αl,3-galactosyltrans- ferase （αI,3GT） to synthesize α-Gal epitopes on car- bohydrate chains of the glycoproteins of tumor mem- branes. The subsequent incubation of the processed membranes in the presence of human natural anti-Gal IgG resulted in the effective phagocytosis to the tumor membrane by DCs. Eighteen patients aged 38-78 years with stage 111 primary HCC were randomly chosen for the study; 9 patients served as controls, and 9 patients were enrolled in the study group.RESULTS： The evaluation demonstrated that the pro- cedure was safe; no serious side effects or autoimmune diseases were observed. The therapy significantly pro- longed the survival of treated patients as compared with the controls （17.1 ± 2.01 mo vs 10.1 ±4.5 mo, P = 0.00121）. After treatment, all patients in the study group had positive delayed hypersensitivity and robust systemic cytotoxicity in response to tumor lysate as measured by interferon-y-expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay. They also displayed increased numbers of CD8-, CD45RO- and CD56-positive cells in the peripheral blood and decreased α-fetoprotein level in the se- rum. CONCLUSION： This new tumor-specific immunotherapy is safe, effective and has a great potential for the treat- ment of tumors.

Antitumor activities of human autologous cytokineinduced killer(CIK)cells against hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

AIM: To characterize the anticancer function of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) and develop an adoptive immunotherapy for the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we evaluated the proliferation rate, phenotype and the antitumor activity of human CIK cells from healthy donors and HCC patients in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and patients with primary HCC were incubated in vitro and induced into CIK cells in the presence of various cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2 and monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD3. The phenotype and characterization of CIK cells were identified by flow cytometric analysis. The cytotoxicity of CIK cells was determined by (51)Cr release assay. RESULTS: The CIK cells were shown to be a heterogeneous population with different cellular phenotypes. The percentage of CD3+/CD56+ positive cells, the dominant effector cells, in total CIK cells from healthy donors and HCC patients, significantly increased from 0.1-0.13% at day 0 to 19.0-20.5% at day 21 incubation, which suggested that the CD3+ CD56+ positive cells proliferated faster than other cell populations of CIK cells in the protocol used in this study. After 28 day in vitro incubation, the CIK cells from patients with HCC and healthy donors increased by more than 300-fold and 500-fold in proliferation cell number, respectively. CIK cells originated from HCC patients possessed a higher in vitro antitumor cytotoxic activity on autologous HCC cells than the autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and PBMC cells. In in vivo animal experiment, CIK cells had stronger effects on the inhibition of tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice bearing BEL-7402-producing tumor than LAK cells (mean inhibitory rate, 84.7% vs 52.8%, P【0.05) or PBMC (mean inhibitory rate, 84.7% vs 37.1%, P【0.01). CONCLUSION: Autologous CIK cells are of highly efficient cytotoxic effector cells against primary hepatocellular carcinoma cells and might serve as an alternative adoptive therapeutic strategy for HCC patients.

Modulation of the Culture Supernatant of Decidual Cells with Exogenous Cytokines on Killing Activity of Natural Killer Cells in Early Pregnancy

To investigate the important function of cytokines in early pregnancy and to provide basic and experimental evidence for understanding the mechanism of their action. Methods Add interferon γ(IFN γ),interleukin 2(IL 2), interleukin 6(IL 6) and epidermal growth factor(EGF) to the confluent culturing decidual cells with three different concentrations and harvest the culture supernatant after 12, 24 and 48 h separately. Observe the effect of the supernatant on killing activity of NK cells with radioimmunological assay of 51 Cr immersion. Results The culture supernatant of decidual cells can promote the killing activity of NK cells in various degrees, and the effect is independent of the type, concentration and acting time of cytokines. Conclusion In normal pregnancy, decidual cytokine network is in a dynamic equilibrium. Exogenous cytokines would be harm to normal pregnancy by interfering the equilibrium state, but the exact mechanism needs further study.

Role of relevant immune-modulators and cytokines in hepatocellular carcinoma and premalignant hepatic lesions

AIM To assess the levels of different immune modulators in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),in relation to other hepatic diseases.METHODS Eighty-eight patients were included in the current study and represented patients with HCC(20),liver cirrhosis(28) and chronic hepatitis(CH;25),and normal controls(NC;15).Peripheral blood was isolated for immunophenotyping of active myeloid dendritic cells(m DCs;CD1 c and CD40),mature inactive myeloid cells(CD1 c and HLA),active plasmacytoid cells(p DCs;CD303 and CD40),mature inactive p DCs(CD30 and HLA),active natural killer(NK) cells(CD56 and CD161),active NK cells(CD56 and CD314) and inactive NK cells(CD56 and CD158) was done by flow cytometry.Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-2,IL-10,IL-12,IL-1β,interferon(IFN)-α,IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αR2 were assessed by ELISA.RESULTS Active m DCs(CD1 C+/CD40+) and inactive m DCs(CD1 c+/HLA+) were significantly decreased in HCC patients in relation to NC(P < 0.001).CD40+ expression on active p DCs was decreased in HCC patients(P < 0.001),and its level was not significantly changed among other groups.Inactive p DCs(CD303+/HLA+),inactive NKs(CD56+/CD158+) and active NKs(CD56+/CD161+) were not statistically changed among the four groups studied;however,the latter was increased in CH(P < 0.05).NKG2 D was statistically decreased in HCC,CH and cirrhosis(P < 0.001),and it was not expressed in 63%(12/20) of HCC patients.There was significant decrease of IL-2,IFN-α and IFN-γ(P < 0.001),and a significant increase in IL-10,IL-1β,and TNF-αR2(P <0.01,P < 0.001 and P < 0.001;respectively) in HCC patients.There was inverted correlation between IL-12 and IL-1β in HCC(r =-0.565,P < 0.01),with a strong correlation between p DCs(CD303+/CD40+) and NKs(CD56+/CD161+;r = 0.512,P < 0.05) as well as inactive m DCs(CD1 c+/HLA+) and inactive NK cells(CD56+/CD158+;r = 0.945,P < 0.001).CONCLUSION NKG2 D,CD40,IL-2 and IL-10 are important modulators in the development and progression of HCC.

Antitumour activities of cytokine-induced killer cells and dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo

Solid tumour cells show a resistance to immunological effector cells in vitro. The resistance may be one reason why these tumours withstand immunotherapeutic approaches in humans. Dendritic cells （DC） play an important role in the immune response to tumour associated antigens in humans. DC in the periphery capture and process antigens, express lymphocyte costimulatory molecules, migrate to lymphoid organs and secrete cytokines to initiate immune response.

A randomized controlled trial of postoperative tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells immunotherapy in patients with localized and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma

Background It remains a challenge to inhibit the local recurrence or distant metastasis of localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma （RCC） after surgical resection. We investigated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of immunotherapy using autologous tumor lysate （TL）-pulsed dendritic cells （DCs） and cytokine-induced killer （CIK） cells in patients with localized or locally advanced RCC.

Infusions of recipient-derived cytokine-induced killer cells of donor origin eradicated residual disease in a relapsed leukemia patient after allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

A female patient diagnosed with acute myelocytic leukemia M5a （AML-M5a） relapsed 986 days after her allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation （alIo-PBSCT） from an unrelated male donor with matched human leukocyte antigen （HLA）. Three re-induction chemotherapies were administered, and partial remission was achieved. The patient was given repetitive infusion of cytokine-induced killer （CIK） cells expanded from recipient peripheral mononuclear cells of full donor chimerism due to loss of contact of quondam donor for donor lymphocyte infusion （DLI） and rejection of second transplantation. The patient achieved complete cytogenetical remission. This strategy might overcome the obstacle of donor unavailability and present an appealing new therapeutic alternative to donor-recruited adoptive immunotherapy for relapsed disease at post-transplantation.

Increasing the frequency of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy may decrease risk of death in gastric cancer patients

AIM: To analyze the correlation between cytokineinduced killer (CIK) cells adoptive immunotherapy and cancer-related death in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six gastric cancer patients after operation at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were enrolled in this study. Their clinical data including demographic characteristics, operation time, tumor size, pathological type and staging, tumor metastasis, outcome of chemotherapy or CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy, survival time or time of death were collected with a standard structured questionnaire. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the median survival time, and the 2- and 5- year survival rates. Hazard risk (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy for gastric cancer were calculated using the two-stage time-dependent covariates Cox model. RESULTS: The survival time of gastric cancer patients was longer after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (χ 2 = 10.907, P = 0.001). The median survival time of gastric cancer patients was also longer after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (49 mo vs 27 mo, P < 0.05). The 2- and 5-year survival rates of gastric cancer patients were significantly higher after CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy than after chemotherapy (73.5% vs 52.6%, 40.4% vs 23.9%, P < 0.05). A significant difference was observed in the survival curve for patients who received CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy (0, 1-10, 11-25, and over 25 frequencies) (χ 2 = 14.534, P = 0.002). The frequencies of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy were significantly related with the decreasing risk of death in gastric cancer patients after adjustment for sex and age of the patients, tumor stage and relapse (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80) when the first stage Cox model was used to define the subjects who remained alive beyond 36 mo as survivors. However, no correlation was observed between the frequencies of death in CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy and the risk of gastric cancer patients (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.63-0.89) when the second stage Cox model was used to define the subjects who survived for more than 36 mo as survivors. CONCLUSION: The survival time of the gastric cancer patients treated with chemotherapy combined with CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy is significantly longer than that of the patients treated with chemotherapy alone and increasing the frequency of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy seems to benefit patients more.

Mesenchymal stromal cells as potential immunomodulatory players in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by SARSCoV- 2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and the related coronavirus disease-19(COVID-19)is a worldwide emerging situation,which was initially reported in December 2019 in Wuhan,China.Currently,more than 7258842 new cases,and more than 411879 deaths have been reported globally.This new highly transmitted coronavirus is responsible for the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.Due to this disorder,a great number of patients are hospitalized in the intensive care unit followed by connection to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for breath supporting and survival.Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome is mostly accompanied by the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines,including interleukin(IL)-2,IL-6,IL-7,granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(GSCF),interferon-inducible protein 10(IP10),monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP1),macrophage inflammatory protein 1A(MIP1A),and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),an event which is known as“cytokine storm”.Further disease pathology involves a generalized modulation of immune responses,leading to fatal multiorgan failure.Currently,no specific treatment or vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)has been developed.Mesenchymal stromal cells(MSCs),which are known for their immunosuppressive actions,could be applied as an alternative co-therapy in critically-ill COVID-19 patients.Specifically,MSCs can regulate the immune responses through the conversion of Th1 to Th2,activation of M2 macrophages,and modulation of dendritic cells maturation.These key immunoregulatory properties of MSCs may be exerted either by produced soluble factors or by cell-cell contact interactions.To date,several clinical trials have been registered to assess the safety,efficacy,and therapeutic potential of MSCs in COVID-19.Moreover,MSC treatment may be effective for the reversion of ground-glass opacity of damaged lungs and reduce the tissue fibrosis.Taking into account the multifunctional properties of MSCs,the proposed stem-cell-based therapy may be proven significantly effective in critically-ill COVID-19 patients.The current therapeutic strategy may improve the patient’s overall condition and in parallel may decrease the mortality rate of the current disease.

Clinical study of co-treatment with DC-CIK cells for advanced solid carcinomas

Objective： The aim of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of cytokine induced killer （CIK） cells in combination with dendritic cells （DCs） on advanced solid carcinoma patients. Methods： Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） from 110 advanced solid tumor patients. Added granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor （GM-CSF）, tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） to adherent cells to induce DCs, and sensitized DCs with antigens of autologous tumor cells or extrinsic tumor cell lines. Cultured suspending cells with interferon-y （IFN-y）, interleukin-2 （IL-2） and CD3 monoclonal antibody （CD3 McAb） to prepare CIK cells, then co-cultured with DCs. After analyzing the phenotype and checking tumor markers and immune function, the autologous CIK cells and DCs were transfused into the cancer patients. Results： Forty-two patients with measurable nidus, 2 achieved complete remission （CR）, 9 partial remission （PR） and 15 stable disease （SD）, while 37 patients with immeasurable nidus, 25 had efficient response. The tumor markers and immune function both improved significantly compared with those before treatment. Conclusion： DCs and CIK cells combinational treatment is safe and effective on advanced solid carcinoma and provide a new and efficacious immunity therapeutic methods for the cancer patients.

The in vitro proliferation and cytokine production of Vα24＋Vβ11＋ natural killer T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background Activation in vitro of natural killer T （NKT） cells in systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） with a-galactosylceramide （a-GalCer） and dendritic cells （DC） may affect the immunoregulatory role of NKT cells. This study was designed to compare the number of NKT cells in patients with SLE to the number in healthy volunteers and measure the cytokines secreted from these NKT cells in vitro. Methods Three sets of culture conditions using （i） a-GalCer, （ii） DC, or （iii） both a-GalCer and DC （a-GalCer＋DC） were adopted to expand NKT cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） of patients with SLE and healthy volunteers. Flow cytometry was used to assess the levels of interleukin （IL）-4, IL-10, interferon （IFN）-y and tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-a produced by the Vα24＋Vβ11＋ NKT cells. Results After 14 days in culture, the total cell count and percentage of Vα24＋Vβ11＋ NKT cells were increased under all conditions but were highest in the a-GalCer＋DC group. The level of IL-4 and IL-10 secreted by Vα24＋Vβ11＋ NKT cells from patients with active SLE was found to be higher than that of inactive patients and the control group （P 〈0.05）, while the levels of IFN-y and TNF-a were lower than those found in the inactive and control groups （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Va24＋V^11＋ NKT cells showed the greatest expansion in vitro with a-GalCer and DC. Th2-type cytokines from Vα24＋Vβ11＋ NKT cells are the predominant type in patients with SLE, while Th 1 cytokines predominate in the control group. This evolution of NKT cell function during the progression of the disease may have important implications in understanding the mechanism of SLE and for the development of possible therapies using NKT cell agonists.

肿瘤特异性个体化多靶点DC-CIK治疗原发性肝癌的临床疗效与安全性

目的:评价肿瘤特异性个体化多靶点自体树突状细胞-细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(DC-CIK)治疗中晚期原发性肝癌(PLC)的临床疗效与安全性。方法:回顾性分析2019年10月至2021年9月东部战区总医院肿瘤科行DC-CIK治疗的119例中晚期PLC患者的临床资料。根据患者治疗时负载DC的抗原不同将患者分为两组,一组使用患者自体特异性多肽负载为pDC-CIK组(n=21),另一组使用肿瘤细胞裂解物负载为DC-CIK组(n=98)。分析两组患者治疗前后的临床资料,包括治疗效果和治疗前后甲胎蛋白、淋巴细胞亚群、细胞因子(IL-2、IFN-γ、TNF-α和IL-6)水平的变化、不良反应发生情况等。结果:119例PLC患者治疗后,pDC-CIK和DC-CIK组两组客观缓解率均为0%,疾病控制率分别为76.1%和72.4%(P>0.05)。治疗后两组患者CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)、CD56^(+)、CD25^(+)和CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞水平无统计学差异(均P>0.05),治疗后两组患者外周血IL-2、IFN-γ、TNF-α和IL-6的平均水平均显著高于治疗前(均P<0.001),两组患者治疗后外周血IL-2、TNF-α和IL-6的平均水平无显著差异(均P>0.05),而pDC-CIK组IFN-γ水平显著高于DC-CIK组(P<0.05)。pDC-CIK组患者平均生存时间为59.84个月,高于DC-CIK组的46.54个月,但无统计学差异(P=0.16)。治疗过程中无严重不良反应的发生。结论:PLC患者行肿瘤特异性个体化多靶点DC-CIK治疗是安全有效的,并能改善免疫功能,相较肿瘤细胞裂解物负载DC-CIK有进一步获益趋势。

动脉灌注化疗联合细胞因子诱导杀伤细胞治疗晚期卵巢癌疗效及对患者血清癌胚抗原、糖类抗原125、可溶性B7-H4蛋白水平的影响

目的:探讨卵巢癌动脉灌注化疗联合细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK)治疗晚期卵巢癌疗效及对患者血清癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原125(CA125)、可溶性B7-H4蛋白(sB7-H4)水平的影响。方法:选择103例晚期卵巢癌患者,随机分为两组,对照组(n=52)行动脉灌注化疗,观察组(n=51)行动脉灌注化疗联合CIK治疗。评价两组患者治疗效果,比较治疗前后卵巢血流参数指标搏动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)、收缩期峰值流速(PSV)变化及血清癌胚抗原CEA、CA125、sB7-H4水平变化,随访3年,记录两组患者3年生存率。结果:观察组总有效率88.23%高于对照组的61.54%(P<0.05)。治疗后观察组PI、RI值较对照组升高,RSV值较对照组降低(均P<0.05)。治疗后观察组血清CEA、CA125、sB7-H4水平低于对照组(均P<0.05)。观察组3年生存率为78.43%高于对照组3年生存率为57.69%(P<0.05)。结论:卵巢癌患者行髂内动脉灌注化疗联合CIK治疗是一种安全、有效的治疗手段,但对于化疗中药物的使用及剂量大小仍需进一步研究,以确定选择最优药物和制定最佳治疗方案。

DC联合CIK治疗156例局部晚期或晚期胰腺癌的临床疗效

目的:评价DC联合CIK治疗156例局部晚期或晚期胰腺癌的临床疗效。方法:回顾性分析2011年11月至2023年12月在东部战区总医院肿瘤科进行自体DC联合CIK治疗的156例局部晚期或晚期胰腺癌患者的临床资料。统计患者治疗前后血清肿瘤标志物、淋巴细胞亚群、细胞因子水平的变化、不良反应发生情况以及近期疗效、远期疗效。结果:156例胰腺癌患者中有92例治疗前后均进行了影像学检查,结果显示CR 0例,PR 0例,SD 42例,PD 50例,ORR为0%,DCR为45.65%。外周血CA199水平在治疗前后无显著差异,但有19例患者治疗后下降超过20%。治疗前后患者外周血CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)、CD56^(+)、CD25^(+)淋巴细胞亚群水平和CD4+/CD8+T细胞比值无统计学差异(P>0.05),治疗后患者外周血IL-2、IFN-γ的平均水平均显著高于治疗前(P<0.05),TNF-α和IL-6无显著差异(P>0.05)。156例患者mOS为8.53个月,1年累积生存率为39%,2年累积生存率为15%,3年累积生存率为15%,没有随访到5年的生存数据。治疗过程中未发生严重不良反应。结论:DC-CIK能使局部晚期和晚期胰腺癌患者产生抗肿瘤免疫反应,取得一定的客观疗效并可能使患者生存期延长。

蜕膜组织NF-κB介导趋化因子与细胞因子调控子宫NK功能

目的 探讨人子宫内膜基质细胞(hESC)蜕膜化过程中核因子κB(NF-κB)介导调控趋化因子、细胞因子产生进而影响子宫自然杀伤细胞(uNK)功能。方法 选取2022年10月1日至2023年3月1日在空军军医大学唐都医院妇产科行人工流产术终止妊娠的20名健康孕妇,收集其蜕膜组织并分离纯化出人uNK。将hESC转染siRel A以抑制NF-κB的活性,随后体外诱导蜕膜化,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(RT-qPCR)检测相关趋化因子、细胞因子的mRNA水平。再转染siRel A的hESC诱导蜕膜化后与人原代uNK共培养,分别收获uNK和细胞上清液,采用流式细胞术检测uNK细胞因子分泌水平,通过体外成管实验、侵袭和划痕实验评估uNK上清体外促血管形成和促滋养层细胞侵袭迁移的能力。结果 转染siRel A后诱导蜕膜化产生的蜕膜基质细胞(DSC)内干扰素γ(IFN-γ)、基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)9、趋化因子CCL2的mRNA表达水平均显著降低(t值分别为3.290、6.415、5.095,P<0.05)。抑制NF-κB活性并诱导蜕膜化产生的DSC与uNK共培养后,抑制了uNK相关因子血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、胎盘生长因子(PLGF)和IFN-γ的分泌(t值分别为6.641、7.743、8.886,P<0.05)。此外,共培养后产生的uNK上清体外促血管形成能力受损(t值分别为4.629、5.522,P<0.05),并且促滋养层细胞侵袭和迁移能力均显著下降(t值分别为8.329、7.190,P<0.05)。结论 NF-κB调控蜕膜基质细胞趋化因子、细胞因子的表达,进而影响子宫自然杀伤细胞功能。