NEW CELL AND CYTOKINE TARGETS II
Alloreactive natural killer cells in targeting high-risk leukaemias
1 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
2 Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
3 Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genova-Quarto, Italy
4 Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Foundation, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
Correspondence to:
Professor L Moretta, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, L go G. Gaslini n.5, 16147 Genova-Quarto, Italy; lorenzomoretta{at}ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
Natural killer (NK) cells express surface receptors that regulate potent effector functions, such as cytolytic activity and release of cytokines, which play a central role in inflammatory response and immunoregulation. In this paper, major advances are outlined from the original discovery of HLA-class I-specific inhibitory receptors in humans to recent, particularly successful, clinical applications in the cure of high-risk, otherwise fatal leukaemias. The central role of donor-derived "alloreactive" NK cells in eradicating leukaemic cells in the T-cell-depleted haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation setting became evident. Since alloreactive NK cells seem to play a key role also in preventing graft rejection and graft-vs-host disease, they may be an ideal tool to treat high-risk leukaemias in the haematopoietic stem cell transplantation setting.
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