Expansion of NK cells by co‐crosslinking of 4‐1BBL and IL15R

Abstract

Adaptive transfer therapy using NK cell has been widely applied for cancer treatment. However, previous strategies on expansion and activation of NK cells is unsuitable for clinical application, because previous expansion strategies require feeder cells. Here, we established a method based on enhancement of NK cell function using removable magnetic protein G beads. We developed the fusion proteins such as 4‐1BB/igG1Fc and IL‐15Rα/IgG1Fc, then attached to magnetic protein G beads. The effect of immobilized 4‐1BB/IgG1Fc and IL‐15Rα/IgG1Fc on NK cell was assessed. We could confirm that fusion protein titration, proliferation, cytotoxicity, expression of activating receptors and IFN‐γ in NK cells were increased by immobilized fusion proteins on day 12. In summary, these results suggest that NK cells stimulated with bead platform can be efficiently without feeder cell, and appropriate for clinical safety. These bead platforms can be applied to a variety of diseases and cell types by changing the molecules to attach to the beadsSupport or Funding InformationProf. KyuBum KwackDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam‐si, Gyeonggi‐do, Republic of Korea.