Increasing the Cytotoxicity of NK-like T cells

The goal of this paper was to see whether immunization with different antigens from pancreatic tumor cells improved cytotoxic efficacy of effector cells, such as T cells. Basically, dendritic cells (DC) were pulsed with pancreatic tumor cell-derived RNA and cocultured with NK-like T cells. Tests were run to see if this reversed resistance of target pancreatic cells to the NK-like T cells. Dendritic cells on their own play a small role in immunity to tumor cells by recognizing tumor antigens. This paper was concerned with whether exposure of DC to a host of tumor antigens would increase the destructive capabilities of NK-like T cells cocultured with them.

DC cells were pulsed with the following: no RNA, RNA from pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, poly(A) + RNA, RNA from lymphoma cells, and cationic lipid complex. The results were that the higher the effector : target ratio, the higher the cytotoxic activity of the NK-like T cells. Tests were also run where DC were pulsed with either increasing amounts of total RNA, poly(A) + different amounts of RNA, different amounts of RNA and CA 19-9 (a peptide), different amounts of RNA with or without CA 19-9, or where RNase H was added. All of these tests showed that DC transfected with tumor-derived RNA leads to reversal of resistance of pancreatic tumor cells by triggering cytotoxic effects of NK-like T cells.

This paper was very descriptive and exemplary of the type of research going on now that involves co-culturing along with immunity. I think this is an interesting field with many possible benefits. The next step would be to somehow insert these new NK-like T cells in animals and see if they are effective in vivo. If they are, we are on the road to a potential cure for cancer, which would relieve millions of Americans from the heartache and misery that goes along with this terrible affliction.