Natural Killer Cells Can Be Induced to Fight Liver Cancer in Mice

NK cells are specialized immune cells named for their inherent ability to respond swiftly to the invasion of pathogens without prior stimulation. They are able to recognize specific proteins on the surface of abnormal or infected cells and respond by releasing enzymes that poke holes in a target cell’s membrane and killing the cell. Tumor cells can also be besieged by NK cells if they lack the proper surface markers that designate them as being normal “self” cells. These markers tell patrolling NK cells that normal cells should not be attacked. Cancer cells sometimes have missing or altered markers on their surface, making them targets for NK cells.

NKT cells are another type of cell that share some characteristics with NK cells, but have only recently been appreciated for their role in immune defense. In contrast to NK cells, some NKT cells have been implicated in dampening the immune response to invading pathogens, rather than initiating an attack. However, both NK and NKT cells secrete, and in turn are controlled by, interleukins (ILs). Many different types of ILs, each carrying its own message between cells, are sent and received by a variety of cell types. IL-12 and IL-18 are two interleukins that, when received by NK and NKT cells, activate the cells’ immune response and relay the signal by triggering the release of another immune messenger molecule, interferon-gamma (IFN- ã).

Since large populations of NK and NKT cells are present in the liver, the NCI researchers examined the potential for using IL-12 and IL-18 together as a therapeutic regimen against tumors that originate in, or spread to, that organ. They showed that treating mice that had cancer with IL-18/IL-12 induced high levels of IFN- ã and greatly reduced the number of tumors in the liver.

Surprisingly, the researchers also noticed that treatment with IL-18/IL-12 not only increased numbers of NK cells in the liver, but also decreased the number of NKT cells that could be detected. Rather than restricting the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, altering or eliminating NKT cells further inhibited tumor growth. The researchers further explored this phenomenon by studying mice that had been engineered to lack NKT cells. They found that this tumor regression was enhanced when these mice were treated with interleukins. Conversely, reducing the population of NK cells decreased the anti-tumor effect of IL-18/IL-12 therapy in these animals.

Taken together, these results imply that anti-tumor activity induced in mice by IL-18 and IL-12 is dependent on both NK cells and IFN- ã, and is able to overcome the immunosuppressive effect of NKT cells. The researchers hope that enhancing NK cell function, while also eliminating or altering NKT cells, will improve cancer immunotherapy.
The liver is a target organ for the spread of many types of tumors, including kidney, colorectal, and breast cancer, all of which can be lethal in part based on their spread to vital organs such as the liver. Thus, approaches that enhance immune responses against cancer in the liver might be beneficial for cancer patients with tumors that arise in, or metastasize to, the liver. The study appears in the November 15, 2006, issue of Cancer Research.

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Message posted by: Rashmi Nemade