IL-15-stimulated natural killer cells

IL-15-stimulated natural killer cells are an experimental adoptive cell therapy consisting of autologous or allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells that have been activated ex vivo with the cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15). IL-15 is a critical factor for NK cell development, survival, and cytotoxic function. Ex vivo stimulation with IL-15 enhances the expression of activating receptors, such as NKG2D, NKp44, and NKp46, and increases the cells' ability to secrete inflammatory cytokines and perform direct lysis of target cells. This therapeutic approach is being investigated for its potential to eliminate latently HIV-infected cells in HIV cure research and to provide a graft-versus-leukemia effect in pediatric patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for high-risk hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Other names

IL-15-activated natural killer cellsIL15-activated natural killer cellsIL 15-activated natural killer cellsex vivo IL-15-stimulated NK cellsIL-15-stimulated NK cellsIL15-stimulated NK cellsIL 15-stimulated NK cells