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Natural Killer Cell Reprogramming with Chimeric Immune Receptors

Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 969)

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are emerging as a new tool for cell therapy of cancer. However, some cancer subtypes are relatively resistant to NK cell cytotoxicity. Expression of anti-CD19 chimeric signaling receptors can enhance NK-cell reactivity against CD19+ leukemia and lymphoma cells. Here we describe a method to enforce expression of such receptors in human NK cells relying on electroporation of mRNA and compare it to retroviral transduction of cDNA. These methods are applicable to the reprogramming of NK cells with chimeric receptors specific for other antigens expressed on cancer cells as well as with molecules that can modulate NK cell function.

Key words

Natural killer cells Cell therapy Retroviral transduction Electroporation Chimeric receptors Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants CA113482 and CA21765 from the National Cancer Institute and by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PaediatricsNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
  2. 2.Department of PathologySt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisUSA
  3. 3.University of Tennessee Health Sciences CenterMemphisUSA

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