Therapeutic application of human type 2 innate lymphoid cells via induction of granzyme B-mediated tumor cell death. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38211590/)

These scientists wanted to learn more about a type of immune cell in our bodies called type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). They found that these cells can release a substance called granzyme B (GZMB) and directly kill tumor cells by causing them to self-destruct. This process is called pyroptosis and/or apoptosis.

They also discovered that a protein called DNAM-1 interacts with another protein called CD112/CD155, which stops a protein called FOXO1 from stopping the immune cells. However, they noticed that in some cases of a type of cancer called acute myeloid leukemia, the tumor cells have a lot of CD155 on their surface, which stops DNAM-1 and GZMB from working properly. This helps the cancer cells hide from the immune system.

To better understand these immune cells, the scientists developed a method to grow and expand them in large numbers in the lab. They tested these expanded immune cells in both leukemia and solid tumor models and found that when they were added to the body, they had a significant effect in fighting against the tumors.

In conclusion, these scientists discovered new things about human ILC2s and found that they are an important part of our immune system that can kill cancer cells.

Li Z., Ma R., Tang H., Guo J., Shah Z., Zhang J., Liu N., Cao S., Marcucci G., Artis D., Caligiuri MA., Yu J. Therapeutic application of human type 2 innate lymphoid cells via induction of granzyme B-mediated tumor cell death. Cell. 2024 Feb 1;187(3):624-641.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.015. Epub 2024 Jan 10.