Gamma delta T cells in acute myeloid leukemia: biology and emerging therapeutic strategies
γδ T cells play an important role in disease control in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and have become an emerging area of therapeutic interest. These cells represent a minor population of T lymphocytes with intrinsic abilities to recognize antigens in a major histocompatibility complex-independent ma...
Saved in:
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2024-02-01
|
Series: | Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer |
Online Access: | https://jitc.bmj.com/content/12/2/e007981.full |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Summary: | γδ T cells play an important role in disease control in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and have become an emerging area of therapeutic interest. These cells represent a minor population of T lymphocytes with intrinsic abilities to recognize antigens in a major histocompatibility complex-independent manner and functionally straddle the innate and adaptive immunity interface. AML shows high expression of phosphoantigens and UL-16 binding proteins that activate the Vδ2 and Vδ1 subtypes of γδ T cells, respectively, leading to γδ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Insights from murine models and clinical data in humans show improved overall survival, leukemia-free survival, reduced risk of relapse, enhanced graft-versus-leukemia effect, and decreased graft-versus-host disease in patients with AML who have higher reconstitution of γδ T cells following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Clinical trials leveraging γδ T cell biology have used unmodified and modified allogeneic cells as well as bispecific engagers and monoclonal antibodies. In this review, we discuss γδ T cells’ biology, roles in cancer and AML, and mechanisms of immune escape and antileukemia effect; we also discuss recent clinical advances related to γδ T cells in the field of AML therapeutics. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 2051-1426 |