Background/aim: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of human peripheral blood γδ T cells, which were expanded ex vivo in the presence of zoledronate (ZOL).
Materials and methods: Human peripheral blood cells were cultured with IL-2 and IL-15 in the presence or absence of ZOL, which was added as a phospho-antigen, and their phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry. Expanded γδ T cells were transduced with CD19 CAR vector, and the cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by flow cytometry.
Results: Ex vivo expansion did not hamper the expression of activating receptors. Interestingly, ZOL promoted the expression of CD226 (DNAM-1), TRAIL, and FAS-L in the Vδ1 subset of γδ T cells. Expanded γδ T cells containing CD19 CAR+ γδ T cells removed B cell lymphoma cells effectively in vivo.
Conclusion: γδ T cells could be a promising immunotherapeutic for cancer.
Keywords: chimeric antigen receptor; immunotherapy; γδ T cells.
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