Adherent Lymphokine-activated Killer Cells Research Articles

Increased proliferation, lytic activity, and purity of human natural killer cells cocultured with mitogen-activated feeder cells

The addition of mitogen-prestimulated periferal blood lymphocytes (PBL) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) cultures to enriched populations of natural killer (NK) cells obtained from PBL of normal donors in the presence of rIL-2 resulted in highly significant increases in proliferation, purity, and cytolytic activity of cultured NK cells. Two sources of enriched NK cell preparations were used: (i) Adherent-lymphokine activated killer (A-LAK) cells obtained by adherence to plastic during 24 hr activation with 10 3 Cetus U/ml rIL-2; and (ii) NK cells negatively selected from PBL by removal of high-affinity rosette-forming cells and CD3 + lymphocytes. Coculture of A-LAK cells for 14 days with autologous or allogeneic Con A-activated PBL (10 6 cells/ml) or selected EBV-transformed LCL (2 × 10 5 cells/ml) as feeder cells increased fold expansion by a mean ± SEM of 629 fold ± 275 ( P < 0.019) and 267 fold ± 54 ( P < 0.0001), respectively, compared to 55 ± 20 in A-LAK cultures without feeder cells. The addition of either activated PBL or EBV lines to A-LAK cultures also led to a significant increase in the percentage of NK cells (CD3 −CD56 +) (84 ± 2.4 and 84 ± 2.6%, respectively, P < 0.0001 for both), compared to 53 ± 7.2% in cultures without feeders. The presence of feeder cells in cultures of A-LAK cells also led to significantly higher anti-tumor cytolytic activity compared to control cultures, as measured against NK-sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (Daudi) target cells. Mitogen-stimulated CD4 + PBL purified by positive selection on antibody-coated flasks were better feeders than CD8 + or unseparated PBL. In the presence of feeder cells, it was possible to generate up to 6 × 10 9 activated NK cells from 2 × 10 8 fresh PBL by Day 13 of culture. Enhanced NK cell proliferation in the presence of feeder cells was not attributable to a detectable soluble factor. The improved method for generating A-LAK or activated-NK cells should facilitate cellular adoptive immunotherapy by providing sufficient numbers of highly enriched CD3 −CD56 + effector cells with high anti-tumor activity.

In Vitro and In Vivo Comparison of the Activity of Human Lymphokine-Activated Killer (LAK) Cells and Adherent LAK Cells

The effectiveness of "standard" lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, recovered after 6 days, and of "standard" adherent LAK (A-LAK) cells, recovered after 14 days of culture in the presence of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 21 healthy donors, was assessed through comparison of their proliferation, surface markers, cytotoxic activity, lymphokine production, and antitumor activity. In the presence of rIL-2, plastic adherent precursors of A-LAK cells proliferated much better than those of "standard LAK" cells and expanded even more than 300-fold. However, the final cell recovery of A-LAK was always lower because of their very few precursors, and the total lytic units (LUs) generated in A-LAK cultures were always lower for the same reason. On the other hand, the lytic activity of each A-LAK cell was always higher than that of a LAK cell. This was particularly evident on day 6 of culture. Removal of nonadherent cells after the first 24 h culture resulted in a significant enrichment in CD3-CD56+ and CD8+CD56+ cells in A-LAK cells, with a marginal number of CD4+ cells. A significant direct correlation between LUs and A-LAK CD3-CD56+ percentage was found. In the presence of rIL-2, A-LAK cells produced higher amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma than LAK cells, while only A-LAK cells produced IL-1 beta and small amounts of IL-4. Neither LAK nor A-LAK produced IL-2. In the absence of injections of IL-2, LAK and A-LAK cells were equally able to inhibit the growth of a human T-cell lymphoma in immunosuppressed nude mice.

Monoclonal antibody 4H12 recognizes subsets of adherent-lymphokine activated killer cells and splenic natural killer cells from pregnant and neonatal mice.

Using a new mAb, 4H12, that recognizes a plasma membrane-associated Ag on granulated metrial gland cells, we identified subsets of murine NK cells in spleen cell-derived adherent lymphokine activated killer cells and in the spleens of neonatal and pregnant mice. In spleen cell adherent-lymphokine-activated killer cultures, 4H12 Ag was detected on a small subset of cells after 7 days culture and expression increased with time to 70% of the cells after 21 days culture. 4H12+ cells were large (up to 70 microns) and granular. The Ag was also detected in the cytoplasmic granules of some, but not all 4H12 surface positive cells. Coexpression studies indicated 4H12+ cells were predominantly positive for the NK1.1 and ASGM1 Ag, negative for the MAC-1 and F4/80 Ag, and +/- for the LGL-1 and CD3 Ag. Subsets of 4H12+/-, LGL-1+/- exhibited morphologic characteristics restricted to specific phenotypic subsets. The 4H12-/LGL-1+ subset was shown to contain the smallest, least granular cells, whereas the 4H12+/LGL-1+/- subsets contained the largest and most granular cells. Although 4H12 expression was negligible in the spleens of normal adult mice, spleen cells of neonatal and pregnant mice contained subsets of NK1.1+ cells that coexpressed 4H12. The 4H12+/NK1.1+ and 4H12-/NK1.1+ subsets displayed differential levels of NK1.1 expression. 4H12+ NK cells were NK1.1 low to high, whereas 4H12- NK cells were NK1.1 high only. The functional significance of subsets of NK cells in IL-2 culture and in the spleens of neonatal and pregnant mice remains to be elucidated.

Adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells suppress autologous human normal bone marrow progenitors

We have generated a homogeneous population of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-stimulated effector cells termed adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of 14 normal individuals and tested the effect of A-LAK cells on autologous hematopoietic bone marrow (BM) progenitor growth. Enrichment of A-LAK from PBMNC depended on the propensity of A-LAK precursors to adhere to plastic and proliferate in the presence of rIL-2. The resultant population had the morphologic appearance of large granular lymphocytes, and the majority of cells (73% +/- 4%) expressed the CD56+/CD3- phenotype associated with rIL-2-stimulated natural killer (NK) cells. The A-LAK population had potent lytic activity in chromium release assays against both NK-sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (Raji) targets. When BM mononuclear cells (BMMNC) were coincubated with autologous A-LAK and rIL-2 (1,000 U/mL) added at the start of culture, dose-dependent suppression of burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and colony-forming unit mix (CFU-MIX) colony growth was observed at effector to target ratios (E:T) ranging from 0.25:1 to 5:1 (maximal suppression BFU-E = 85% +/- 6%; CFU-MIX = 95% +/- 3%). This suppression was rIL-2 dose-dependent, and no suppression was seen in the absence of rIL-2. Depletion of BM monocytes and T lymphocytes did not alter A-LAK suppression of progenitors coincubated with A-LAK cells. Addition of polyclonal neutralizing antibodies against both interferon-gamma (IFN- gamma) and tumor necrosis facto alpha (TNF-alpha) to the coincubation culture completely abrogated the suppressive effect of A-LAK on BFU-E and CFU-MIX colony growth while each neutralizing antibody used alone had intermediate effects. In contrast to coincubation studies, 36 hours of preincubation of A-LAK cells with autologous BM (E:T 2.2:1) and rIL- 2 (1,000 U/mL) followed by plating of preincubated BM cells in hematopoietic progenitor culture produced significant suppression of day 14 BFU-E (47% +/- 5%), but spared the more primitive CFU-MIX (7% +/- 9%), suggesting a divergent effect of A-LAK cells on hematopoietic progenitors at different stages of differentiation. Addition of neutralizing antibodies against IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in preincubation failed to abrogate the suppressive effect of A-LAK on BFU- E colony growth, suggesting that this suppression occurs by a different mechanism than that seen in coincubation studies. Previous studies have demonstrated that the A-LAK population has cytotoxic and proliferative advantages over other killer cell populations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adherent Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells Suppress Autologous Human Normal Bone Marrow Progenitors

We have generated a homogeneous population of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-stimulated effector cells termed adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of 14 normal individuals and tested the effect of A-LAK cells on autologous hematopoietic bone marrow (BM) progenitor growth. Enrichment of A-LAK from PBMNC depended on the propensity of A-LAK precursors to adhere to plastic and proliferate in the presence of rIL-2. The resultant population had the morphologic appearance of large granular lymphocytes, and the majority of cells (73% +/- 4%) expressed the CD56+/CD3- phenotype associated with rIL-2-stimulated natural killer (NK) cells. The A-LAK population had potent lytic activity in chromium release assays against both NK-sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (Raji) targets. When BM mononuclear cells (BMMNC) were coincubated with autologous A-LAK and rIL-2 (1,000 U/mL) added at the start of culture, dose-dependent suppression of burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) and colony-forming unit mix (CFU-MIX) colony growth was observed at effector to target ratios (E:T) ranging from 0.25:1 to 5:1 (maximal suppression BFU-E = 85% +/- 6%; CFU-MIX = 95% +/- 3%). This suppression was rIL-2 dose-dependent, and no suppression was seen in the absence of rIL-2. Depletion of BM monocytes and T lymphocytes did not alter A-LAK suppression of progenitors coincubated with A-LAK cells. Addition of polyclonal neutralizing antibodies against both interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis facto alpha (TNF-alpha) to the coincubation culture completely abrogated the suppressive effect of A-LAK on BFU-E and CFU-MIX colony growth while each neutralizing antibody used alone had intermediate effects. In contrast to coincubation studies, 36 hours of preincubation of A-LAK cells with autologous BM (E:T 2.2:1) and rIL-2 (1,000 U/mL) followed by plating of preincubated BM cells in hematopoietic progenitor culture produced significant suppression of day 14 BFU-E (47% +/- 5%), but spared the more primitive CFU-MIX (7% +/- 9%), suggesting a divergent effect of A-LAK cells on hematopoietic progenitors at different stages of differentiation. Addition of neutralizing antibodies against IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in preincubation failed to abrogate the suppressive effect of A-LAK on BFU-E colony growth, suggesting that this suppression occurs by a different mechanism than that seen in coincubation studies. Previous studies have demonstrated that the A-LAK population has cytotoxic and proliferative advantages over other killer cell populations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) and adherent LAK (A-LAK) activity in multiple sclerosis

The cytotoxic activity of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells against enriched cultures of oligodendrocytes (OL) was investigated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls. Human LAK cells, derived from macrophage-3epleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and incubated with recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) (20–80 U/ml), mediated high levels of cytotoxicity against Raji cells but low levels of cytotoxicity against primary cultures of bovine OL. Cytotoxicity was not enhanced by incubation with a high level of IL-2 (500 U/ml). No statistically significant differences in LAK cell activity against bovine OL were observed among the study groups. Enriched adherent LAK (A-LAK) cells mediated greater levels of cytotoxicity against both bovine OL and tumor cell lines than unfractionated LAK cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that A-LAK effector cellswere CD4 −, CD8 +. and CD16 +. Furthermore, A-LAK cells mediated lysis of OL derived from several different animal species. Our results suggest that LAK and A-LAK cells can mediate cytolysis of OL in culture similar to that observed with a number of differet tumor cell lines. However, no significant difference in cytolysis was identified between MS and control groups in this study.

Preferential Localization of Human Adherent Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells in Tumor Microcirculation

The efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy for solid tumors with lymphokine-activated effector cells presumably depends on the ability of these cells to localize adequately in tumor tissues. We present here the first quantitative study of the in vivo movement of fluorescently labeled adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells. These cells were injected intra-arterially along with low-dose interleukin-2 into normal (mature granulation) tissue and an implant of VX2 carcinoma grown in the rabbit ear chamber. A small proportion of A-LAK cells accumulated preferentially in the tumor microcirculation in vivo because of an increased frequency of long-term adhesive interactions with the tumor vasculature. Stasis of blood flow in the tumor vasculature was observed 1 to 2 days after injection. Subsequent necrosis of the tumors was observed, along with diffuse infiltrates of lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes in the interstitial space within the tumor. Development of necrosis despite low ratios of effector cells to target cells suggests that in addition to direct cytotoxicity, the response to adoptive immunotherapy is mediated via the tumor vasculature. This novel mechanism for adoptive immunotherapy must be taken into account in the development of improved strategies for cancer treatment.

Origin and function of adherent lymphokine activated killer cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia who relapse following bone marrow transplantation

Adherent lymphokine activated killer (ALAK) cells are a subpopulation of activated natural killer (NK) cells with MHC unrestricted antitumour activity distinguished by their propensity to adhere to plastic in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2). We generated ALAK cells from seven patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) following Campath-1-depleted bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Five had relapsed and were in chronic phase, one had cytogenetic evidence of relapse and one had prior evidence of cytogenetic relapse but was in complete remission at time of study. Phenotypically the ALAK cells included both CD56+/CD3- NK cells and CD56-/CD3+ T cells. The CD3- subpopulation were studied cytogenetically and their functional activity tested in a 4 h 51Cr release cytotoxicity assay using the pretransplant leukaemia cells as targets. Cytogenetic studies showed that the ALAK cells from six patients were Ph negative, and where donor and recipient were sex mismatched, ALAK cells were exclusively of donor origin. In one patient ALAK cells were Ph positive and of recipient origin in eight of nine metaphases. In the 51Cr release assay the ALAK cells showed significant lysis of the pretransplant leukaemia in five of the seven patients tested. These data indicate that in CML patients who relapse post-BMT the NK cells are usually of donor origin but may be recipient-derived. In most patients these ALAK cells have antileukaemic activity in vitro.

Analysis of interleukin 2 and various effector cell populations in adoptive immunotherapy of 9L rat gliosarcoma: allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocytes prevent tumor take.

Recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) and various effector cell populations were used for adoptive immunotherapy in the Fischer strain 9L rat gliosarcoma model. The in vivo cytotoxicities of nonspecifically activated lymphocytes and specifically activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were assessed in a modified in vivo neutralization (Winn) assay. Effector cells (10(6)) and 9L tumor cells (10(5] were combined with 10(4) units of rIL-2 and stereotactically implanted into the right frontal centrum semiovale of the Fischer (F344) rat. At 7 and 14 days, additional effector cells (10(6] and rIL-2 (10(4) units) were administered through the same burr hole. Nonspecifically activated splenocytes were lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, both plastic-adherent and nonadherent, whereas specifically activated CTLs were either syngeneic (genetically identical) or allogeneic (genetically dissimilar). Syngeneic CTLs were T lymphocytes from Fischer rats primed in vivo with 9L cells and restimulated in vitro. Allogeneic CTLs were generated by exposing DA rat lymphocytes either to irradiated Fischer lymph node cells or to 9L Fisher tumor cells in vitro. Control groups included rats bearing 9L tumor who were untreated, those who received peripheral (i.p. or s.c.) administration of rIL-2, or those who received syngeneic unstimulated T lymphocytes and rIL-2. For a set of animals given the same inoculum of 9L tumor, significantly improved survival was shown for groups treated with nonadherent or adherent LAK cells (P less than or equal to 0.0003), syngeneic CTLs (P = 0.0327), or allogeneic CTLs (P = 0.0025) over untreated control animals by using Mantel-Haenzel nonparametric logrank equations. Only treatment with allogeneic CTLs prevented tumor take.

Cytotoxic Activity Against HIV-infected Monocytes by Recombinant Interleukin 2-Activated Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells have long been known to aid in the control of viral infections by killing virus-infected cells, including those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among the possible NK-susceptible target cells in an infected individual, the monocyte/macrophages are of special significance since they may serve as both a reservoir of HIV and aid in dissemination of the virus throughout the body. A new technique for the enrichment and cultivation of large numbers of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2)-stimulated NK cells has been developed which provides cells with high cytotoxic activity. These IL-2-activated NK cells, adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK), can kill monocytes infected with HIV for 24 h to 7 days, with optimal target sensitivity between 3 and 7 days. Recognition and killing of the infected monocytes did not appear to be restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and could be cold-target inhibited by tumor cell lines. A-LAK cells may be useful in newer therapeutic approaches to treatment of HIV infection.

Surface Characteristics, Morphology, and Ultrastructure of Human Adherent Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells

Human adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells represent a population of highly cytotoxic, interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes that have large granular lymphocyte (LGL) morphology and display natural killer (NK) cell-associated surface markers (CD3-CD56+). The ultrastructure of A-LAK cells also is consistent with that of highly activated NK cells. After their initial isolation, continued culture of A-LAK cells in the presence of IL-2 resulted in cyclic shifts between adherent and non-adherent phases with about 90% of the cells floating and non-adherent. All of these A-LAK cells were spheroidal with numerous villi and pseudopodia. In the adherent phase, A-LAK cells were motile, moving along the solid surface at a speed of about 1 micron per minute, and polar, with a ruffled leading edge at one end of the cell and a terminal tuft of villi at the opposite end. Transmission electron microscopy of these cells also demonstrated a high degree of internal polarity, with the nucleus at the leading edge of the cell and richly granulated cytoplasm at the terminal end. Extensive cytoskeletal structures, multivesicular bodies, and an active Golgi complex characterized these cells. A-LAK cells in the adherent phase were found to express numerous point contacts (podosomes) and larger adherence structures containing polymerized actin, which appear to be important for interactions of these cells with the substrate. Increased expression of adhesion molecules in association with surface structures mediating adherence is also responsible for effective binding of A-LAK cells to solid surfaces.

Diminished A-LAK Cytotoxicity and Proliferation Accompany Disease Progression in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

We have compared the proliferative and cytotoxic capacities of a highly purified population of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), termed adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK), in 15 chronic phase (CP) and 10 advanced disease (AD) Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. The selective enrichment of CML A-LAK cells depended on their propensity to adhere to plastic and to proliferate when cultured in the presence of rIL-2 for 14 days. In both CP and AD patients, 14-day culture resulted in growth of a uniform population of large granular lymphocytes. While less than 10% of the A-LAK cells were CD56-/CD3+ (mature T lymphocytes), 82% +/- 12% of A-LAK cells from early CP patients (diagnosed less than 1 year from study), 84% +/- 3% of A-LAK cells from late CP patients (studied greater than 1 year after diagnosis), and 87% +/- 3% of A-LAK cells from AD patients were CD56+/CD3- (activated natural killer [NK] cells). No bcr gene rearrangement could be found in A-LAK cells from 13 CP and six AD CML patients studied. A-LAK cells from seven early CP CML patients displayed similar cytotoxicity against K562 (80% +/- 7% lysis at effector:target ratio of 20:1) and against Raji (80% +/- 12% lysis) compared with A-LAK from 17 normal individuals (72% +/- 3% K562 lysis, P = .21; 74% +/- 5% Raji lysis, P = .39). However, the cytotoxicity of A-LAK cells from eight late CP patients (59% +/- 5% K562 lysis, P = .02; 52% +/- 8% Raji lysis, P = .02) and that of 10 AD patients studied at any point after diagnosis (31% +/- 3% K562 lysis, P less than .001; 25% +/- 6% Raji lysis, P less than .001) was significantly lower than that of seven early CP CML patients and 17 normals. The proliferative potential of A-LAK cells from seven early CP CML patients (291 +/- 191-fold) was significantly greater than that of A-LAK cells from 17 normal individuals (23 +/- 3-fold, P = .03), eight late CP patients (46 +/- 17-fold, P = .02), and 10 AD patients (5.4 +/- 1.9-fold, P = .01). In contrast to CML A-LAK, K562 cytotoxicity of unstimulated mature peripheral blood NK cells was significantly lower in early CP CML patients than in normals and remained low at all stages of disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of splenectomy on the development of tumor-specific immunity

We have previously reported on the antimetastatic effects of experimental adoptive immunotherapy using plastic adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (ALAK) cells (R. E. Schwarz et al. Cancer Res. 49: 1441, 1989). We have also reported that the spleen is a superior source of lymphocytes for A-LAK cell generation (R. E. Schwarz and J. C. Hiserodt, Med. Hypotheses 28: 165, 1989). This study, therefore, was designed to examine the effects of splenectomy itself on tumor growth in an experimental animal model. Natural killer (NK)-resistant MADB106 mammary adenocarcinoma cells were injected iv into F344 rats to generate multiple lung metastases. Splenectomies (Sx) were performed on Days −6, −3, −1, 0, 1, 3, 6, and 10, counted from the time of tumor injection. Groups consisted of six animals each, and shamanesthetized and -operated animals served as controls. Splenectomies, if performed between Days −3 and +1, had significant antitumor effects as documented by the number of outgrowing surface metastases (5 ± 7 vs >300; P < 0.0001) and by animal survival (>100 vs 21 ± 3 days; P < 0.001). However, splenectomies, performed at an earlier or later stage, did not show these effects. Sx did not alter peripheral blood NK activity or the percentages of mononuclear cell subsets except for a slight decrease in the T-helper/T-suppressor ratio ( P < 0.04). Interleukin 2 (rhIL2), given at 2.5 × 10 5 U/kg/day for 3 days immediately after splenectomy, completely abrogated the observed antitumor effects. Subcutaneous tumor rechallenge of long-term surviving animals showed no tumor take in 87% of the animals. We conclude that the development of tumor-specific immunity in this model is facilitated, if splenectomy is performed during a critical interval, and is abrogated by IL2 administration. Splenectomy can show significant immunomodulatory and/or therapeutic effects in tumor-bearing individuals.

Modulation of generation of human adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells by L-phenylalanine methyl Ester (PME)

Modulation of generation of human adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells by L-phenylalanine methyl Ester (PME)

Unimpaired ability to generate adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells in patients with primary or metastatic liver tumors.

Adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK cells) obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells represent a population of potent antitumor effectors enriched in interleukin-2(IL-2)-activated natural killer cells. This study shows that A-LAK cells can be successfully generated from the blood of patients with liver cancer not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy or irradiation. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the blood of 33 patients with liver tumors (6 benign, 10 primary malignant, 17 metastatic) at the time of liver resection. A-LAK cells were separated by adherence to plastic following activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 1000 U/ml recombinant IL-2. A-LAK cells (enriched up to 92% in CD3-CD56+ cells) showed better subsequent expansion and two to six times higher antitumor cytotoxicity per cell than unseparated LAK cells cultured under the same conditions. The ability to generate A-LAK cells with superior in vitro cytotoxicity from the blood of most patients with liver cancer indicates that adoptive cellular immunotherapy may be a feasible and new way of treatment for primary and secondary hepatic neoplasms in man.

Adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia: a benign cell population with potent cytotoxic activity

We generated a homogeneous population of cells with cytotoxic activity termed "adherent lymphokine-activated killer" (ALAK) cells from the peripheral blood of nine patients in the chronic phase of Ph1 positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The selective enrichment of CML ALAK cells depended on their propensity to adhere to plastic and proliferate when cultured in the presence of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) for 14 days. Culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells under these conditions resulted in growth of a uniform population of cells with morphologic characteristics of large granular lymphocytes. The NKH1+/CD3- phenotype associated with IL-2-stimulated natural killer (NK) cells was present on 79% +/- 9% of cells. Absence of colony formation in conditions promoting the growth of CFU-GEMM indicated that the CML ALAK population was not contaminated with viable hematopoietic progenitors. Cytogenetic analysis of the CML ALAK population revealed 119/120 Ph1 negative metaphases and l/120 Ph1 positive metaphase in six patients. Southern blot analysis of CML ALAK failed to demonstrate a bcr gene rearrangement in seven patients known to have a bcr gene rearrangement in myeloid cells. Comparison of ALAK populations derived from peripheral blood of CML patients and normals revealed similar cytotoxicity against the NK-sensitive K562 cell line (104 +/- 36 LU v 88 +/- 19 LU; P = NS) and the NK-resistant Raji cell line (93 +/- 26 LU v 98 +/- 28 LU; P = NS). The proliferative capacity of CML ALAK cells (101 +/- 33 fold expansion) exceeds the growth potential of the normal ALAK cells (22.3 +/- 3 fold expansion; P = .02). Direct comparison of equal numbers of CML ALAK cells and a CML LAK cell population produced by incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in rIL-2 for 14 days without adherence revealed that the CML LAK population had significantly lower lytic activity against K562 and Raji cell lines. We are able to expand CML peripheral blood mononuclear cells to provide a population of ALAK cells with potent cytotoxic activity. The CML ALAK population is relatively homogeneous, not contaminated with viable stem cells, not derived from a malignant lineage, and more cytotoxic than equal numbers of CML LAK cells. Further studies are underway to determine if this ALAK population may be effective in autologous killing of chronic myelogenous leukemia stem cells.

Adherent Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: A Benign Cell Population With Potent Cytotoxic Activity

Abstract We generated a homogeneous population of cells with cytotoxic activity termed “adherent lymphokine-activated killer” (ALAK) cells from the peripheral blood of nine patients in the chronic phase of Ph1 positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The selective enrichment of CML ALAK cells depended on their propensity to adhere to plastic and proliferate when cultured in the presence of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) for 14 days. Culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells under these conditions resulted in growth of a uniform population of cells with morphologic characteristics of large granular lymphocytes. The NKH1+/CD3- phenotype associated with IL-2-stimulated natural killer (NK) cells was present on 79% +/- 9% of cells. Absence of colony formation in conditions promoting the growth of CFU-GEMM indicated that the CML ALAK population was not contaminated with viable hematopoietic progenitors. Cytogenetic analysis of the CML ALAK population revealed 119/120 Ph1 negative metaphases and l/120 Ph1 positive metaphase in six patients. Southern blot analysis of CML ALAK failed to demonstrate a bcr gene rearrangement in seven patients known to have a bcr gene rearrangement in myeloid cells. Comparison of ALAK populations derived from peripheral blood of CML patients and normals revealed similar cytotoxicity against the NK-sensitive K562 cell line (104 +/- 36 LU v 88 +/- 19 LU; P = NS) and the NK-resistant Raji cell line (93 +/- 26 LU v 98 +/- 28 LU; P = NS). The proliferative capacity of CML ALAK cells (101 +/- 33 fold expansion) exceeds the growth potential of the normal ALAK cells (22.3 +/- 3 fold expansion; P = .02). Direct comparison of equal numbers of CML ALAK cells and a CML LAK cell population produced by incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in rIL-2 for 14 days without adherence revealed that the CML LAK population had significantly lower lytic activity against K562 and Raji cell lines. We are able to expand CML peripheral blood mononuclear cells to provide a population of ALAK cells with potent cytotoxic activity. The CML ALAK population is relatively homogeneous, not contaminated with viable stem cells, not derived from a malignant lineage, and more cytotoxic than equal numbers of CML LAK cells. Further studies are underway to determine if this ALAK population may be effective in autologous killing of chronic myelogenous leukemia stem cells.

Large-scale preparation of adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells for adoptive immunotherapy in man.

Stepwise counterflow centrifugal elutriation of leukapheresed human mononuclear cells (MNC) in a Beckman JE-6B rotor and J6-M/E centrifuge yielded a population highly enriched in natural killer (NK) cells (70-75% large granular lymphocytes with 10-13 times greater NK activity) at a flow rate of 38-44 ml/min using a fixed rotor speed of 3000 rpm at 27 degrees C. However, the mean cell recovery was less than 1%. To obtain sufficient numbers of purified NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy, a strategy combining counterflow centrifugal elutriation with adherence of recombinant interleukin-2(rIL-2)-activated NK cells to plastic was developed. First, MNC were elutriated to give a twofold enrichment in NK cells, containing 22% Leu19+ cells, 18% large granular lymphocytes and 51 lytic units of activity against K562 targets as opposed to the unfractionated MNC containing 10% Leu19+ cells, 7% large granular lymphocytes and 26 lytic units of activity. The mean recovery was 80 +/- 15% (n = 10). Further enrichment was obtained by isolation of the elutriated cells that adhered to plastic after culture for 24 h in the presence of 1000 U/ml rIL-2. The initial adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells represented 1-4% of total MNC, but their subsequent expansion was at least 10-22-fold during 8-14 days in culture with 1000 U/ml rIL-2. Using this strategy, 2 x 10(9) normal MNC, obtained by leukapheresis, yielded 5 x 10(8) A-LAK cells with a total of 5.7 x 10(5) lytic units of cytotoxicity against K562 and a total of 3.3 x 10(5) lytic units against Daudi targets. This enrichment method has yielded sufficient numbers of A-LAK cells to form the basis for a phase I clinical trial of adoptive immunotherapy in patients with advanced cancer.

Monoclonal antibody to a triggering structure expressed on rat natural killer cells and adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells.

To study the cellular structures involved in NK and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell function, we have produced a panel of mAbs that modulate the cytolytic function of a population of cells with LAK activity that derive from large granular lymphocyte (LGL)/NK cells (adherent LAK [A-LAK] cells). In this report, we describe an mAb (3.2.3; IgG1k) that recognizes a triggering structure that is expressed on rat LGL/NK cells and A-LAK cells. This epitope is also expressed on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). The expression of the epitope identified by mAb 3.2.3 increased progressively on A-LAK cells after culture in the presence of rIL-2. mAb 3.2.3 enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK and A-LAK cells against FcR+ target cells, but not FcR- target cells. However, this effect was not induced by F(ab')2 fragments of 3.2.3. This antibody also induced the release of N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine thiobenzy esteresterase by A-LAK cells. These data suggest that the epitope identified by mAb 3.2.3 is on a triggering structure expressed on rat NK cells and A-LAK cells. The expression of the epitope recognized by mAb 3.2.3 on LGL/NK cells and PMN suggests that this structure may be analogous to that identified by the anti-CD16 (-FcR) mAbs. However, the molecule immunoprecipitated by mAb 3.2.3 was a 60-kD dimer composed of two 30-kD chains. These data suggest that mAb 3.2.3 recognizes a unique triggering structure. As mAb 3.2.3 is the first antibody recognizing a determinant with functional significance, selectively expressed on both rat NK cells and A-LAK cells, it will be a useful tool for the study of NK cell ontogeny and function, and the development of cells with LAK activity from the NK cell compartment.

Generation and characterization of purified adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells in mice.

During the incubation of murine spleen, lymph node, or bone marrow cells with IL-2 (1000 U/ml) a small percentage of cells became adherent to the surface of plastic tissue culture flasks. After removal of the non-adherent lymphoid cells, plastic adherent lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells could be efficiently expanded in the presence of IL-2. Plastic adherent-derived A-LAK cells were characterized by high rates of proliferation and their cytotoxic activity was more than 10 fold higher than LAK cells generated in the bulk (unfractionated) spleen cell cultures. A-LAK cells could be continuously generated from the non-adherent cell population. Using multiple transfers (every 1 to 2 days) of non-adherent LAK cells into new flasks, new rounds of plastic adherent cells were generated with high expansion capability and high levels of cytotoxic activity. Morphologically, A-LAK cells were large granular lymphocyte and phenotypically expressed markers characteristic of NK cells (asialo GM1+, NK1.1+, Qa5+, Ly-6.2+, Thy-1.2+, but negative for Lyt-2.2 and L3T4). A-LAK cells generated from mice of different strains expressing low and high levels of NK cell activity were equally highly cytotoxic. However, A-LAK cells obtained from nude or beige mice had relatively lower levels of cytotoxicity. Stimulation of NK cell activity by poly I:C or inhibition by in vivo or in vitro treatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum did not affect the generation of A-LAK cells. A-LAK cells derived from spleen or bone marrow of C57BL/6 or nude mice treated with anti-asialo GM1 serum were found to be asialo GM1+ suggesting that A-LAK cell could be generated from the asialo GM1- precursor cells. Expansion of plastic adherent A-LAK cells in the presence of IL-2 could provide large numbers of highly purified cytotoxic A-LAK cells suitable for cancer immunotherapy.