Interleukin 15 in Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Yang Zhou; Tiffany Husman; Xinjian Cen; Tasha Tsao; James Brown; Aarushi Bajpai; Miao Li; Kuangyi Zhou; Lili Yang

doi:10.3390/ijms23137311

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Jun 2022)

Interleukin 15 in Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Yang Zhou,
Tiffany Husman,
Xinjian Cen,
Tasha Tsao,
James Brown,
Aarushi Bajpai,
Miao Li,
Kuangyi Zhou,
Lili Yang

Affiliations

Yang Zhou: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Tiffany Husman: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Xinjian Cen: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Tasha Tsao: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
James Brown: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Aarushi Bajpai: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Miao Li: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Kuangyi Zhou: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Lili Yang: Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23137311
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 13
p. 7311

Abstract

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Cell-based cancer immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered T and natural killer (NK) cell therapies, has become a revolutionary new pillar in cancer treatment. Interleukin 15 (IL-15), a potent immunostimulatory cytokine that potentiates T and NK cell immune responses, has demonstrated the reliability and potency to potentially improve the therapeutic efficacy of current cell therapy. Structurally similar to interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-15 supports the persistence of CD8+ memory T cells while inhibiting IL-2-induced T cell death that better maintains long-term anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we describe the biology of IL-15, studies on administrating IL-15 and/or its derivatives as immunotherapeutic agents, and IL-15-armored immune cells in adoptive cell therapy. We also discuss the advantages and challenges of incorporating IL-15 in cell-based immunotherapy and provide directions for future investigation.

Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

ISSN: 1661-6596 (Print); 1422-0067 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms

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Abstract

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