Low-intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Enhances NK Cell Adoptive Therapy by Modulating the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Natural killer cell adoptive therapy is a novel immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of multiple refractory tumors, including ovarian cancer. However, natural killer cells’ anti-tumor effectiveness is limited by their viability and cytotoxicity. Our preliminary study suggested that ultrasound irradiation improves the therapeutic effects of natural killer cells on ovarian cancer through an unclear mechanism. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is a complex protein network system associated with the maturation and function of natural killer cells. Therefore, herein, to reveal the precise mechanism underlying the effects of ultrasound on natural killer cells, we measured the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway proteins before and after ultrasound irradiation. The expression of therapeutic factors secreted by natural killer cells increased after ultrasound irradiation. Therefore, this study provides an additional strategy for optimizing the therapeutic efficiency of natural killer cells.

Keywords

• adoptive cell therapy
• natural killer cells
• ultrasound
• wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway