Immune Cell Cytokines and Growth Factors

T Cells

Cell-based therapies like CAR-T cell therapy have transformed modern medicine in the fight against cancers. CAR T-cell manufacturing is a complex, multi-step process that requires control and consistency throughout. Autologous CAR-T therapies involve isolation of primary T cells via leukapheresis, followed by an initial ex vivo activation and expansion phase before transduction of the CAR transgene. Final steps include a secondary cell expansion phase before cryopreservation and eventual infusion into the patient.

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Natural Killer (NK) Cells

NK cells, a vital arm of innate immunity, can recognize and eliminate tumor cells without prior sensitization by antigen presenting cells. They mediate cytotoxicity through direct cell-to-cell contact and secretion of cytotoxic granules containing perforin and granzymes. This cell-mediated cytotoxicity is a critical mechanism in surveillance against viral infection and tumor cells, elevating NK cells among key candidate immune effector cells for cancer immunotherapy such as CAR-NK.

B Cells

B cells are critical components of the immune response, primarily known for producing antibodies. However, advancing research reveals an equally important role for B cells in regulating immune responses and influencing the tumor environment, independently of antibodies. Immunotherapies now consist of several different approaches, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and CAR cell therapy. However, advancements concerning research and treatment of B cell lymphoma and leukemia, such as Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, are still in need. Toward this goal, targeted depletion of B cells is used as therapy for oncological and autoimmune diseases characterized by excessive, overactive, or dysfunctional B cells. 

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Dendritic Cells (DC)

The initiation and control of lymphocyte responses depend on the interaction of T cells with dendritic cells (DCs), an important type of antigen presenting cell (APC). DCs are a complex innate immune cell population that recognize and respond to pathogen-associated signals, acting as key regulators for activating T cells and stimulating growth and differentiation of DCs. Dendritic cell therapy—particularly ex vivo DC vaccine production—exploits the potency of DCs as APCs toward induction of CD8+ T cell immunity as part of immunotherapy. Strategies are now being tested to employ DCs as therapeutic vaccines for exploiting their activity against tumor cells.

Macrophages

Myeloid cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and granulocytes, are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a role in tumor development and progression. To address challenges associated with CAR T/NK-cells, researchers are capitalizing on the unique physiological properties of other immune cells, including myeloid cells. Cancer immunotherapy research is now pointing to the critical role of myeloid cells in coordinating antitumor responses with strategies such as cytokine-armored myeloid cells and engineering myeloid cells with CARs. At present, significant interest lies in developing CAR macrophages for cancer immunotherapy to overcome challenges associated with CAR T/NK cell therapy, especially when addressing solid tumors.