Reduction of GVHD and enhanced antitumor effects after adoptive infusion of alloreactive Ly49-mismatched NK cells from MHC-matched donors

Blood. 2007 Apr 15;109(8):3603-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-05-024315. Epub 2006 Dec 19.

Abstract

We investigated if an infusion of alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells would reduce GVHD and mediate antitumor effects in mice undergoing MHC-matched allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Balb/c mice bearing RENCA tumors underwent an allogeneic SCT from MHC-matched B10.d2 donors and were given a single infusion of either Ly49 ligand-matched, ligand-mismatched, or no donor NK cells. Recipients of Ly49 ligand-mismatched NK cells had a reduced incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; 39% vs 100%; P < .01), and prolonged survival (median 84 days vs 39 days; P < .01) compared with SCT recipients not receiving NK cells. Recipients of Ly49 ligand-matched NK cells had the same incidence of GVHD and similar survival compared with controls not receiving NK cells. Pulmonary tumor burden was significantly (P < .01) lower in recipients that received Ly49-mismatched or Ly49-matched NK cells compared with recipients not receiving NK cells. These data provide in vivo evidence that a single infusion of alloreactive donor NK cells reduces GVHD and mediates antitumor effects following MHC-matched allogeneic transplantation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Ly*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy*
  • Graft vs Tumor Effect*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Killer Cells, Natural / transplantation*
  • Lectins, C-Type*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Lymphocyte Transfusion*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Tumor Burden

Substances

  • Antigens, Ly
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Receptors, NK Cell Lectin-Like