Researchers in New York have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding immune cells and their ability to combat cancer and fight viruses, such as SARS-Cov-2. The study found that a specific type of immune cell called human type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), known for their role in allergy and immune responses, can also eliminate cancer cells and combat viral infections.
The research, published in the journal Cell, demonstrated that ILC2s can be expanded outside the body and applied in larger quantities to overcome a tumor’s defenses and eliminate malignant cells. This was proven through experiments on mouse models with cancer, where the ILC2s were able to directly kill various types of cancers, including blood cancers and solid tumors.
Unlike T cell-based therapies that require the patient’s own cells, ILC2s have the potential to be sourced from healthy donors, making them a promising allogeneic and off-the-shelf treatment option. In the future, these cells could be manufactured, preserved, and then administered to patients.
Previous research on mouse cells did not consistently demonstrate the cancer-killing abilities of ILC2s. However, this new study found that human ILC2s directly kill cancer cells, while their mouse counterparts do not. To test the human ILC2s, the researchers isolated the cells from a blood sample and developed a novel platform to expand them 2,000-fold in just four weeks.
The externally expanded ILC2s were then injected into mice with human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and glioblastoma. The results showed that this population of ILC2s was able to kill these tumors through a previously unknown cancer-killing mechanism. In one experiment, when an ILC2 cell was placed directly with a tumor cell, the tumor cell died while the ILC2 cell survived, indicating that ILC2s can directly kill cancer cells without the help of other cells.
Human ILC2s are rare in the body and are found in the largest numbers in the lungs, gut, and skin. This means that they do not necessarily need to come from the patient’s own cells, opening up the possibility of using ILC2s harvested and frozen from healthy donors for future treatment options.
The researchers also believe that ILC2s may have applications beyond cancer treatments. They could potentially be effective against viral infections like Covid-19, showcasing their versatility and potential in various medical fields.
This breakthrough discovery sheds light on the crucial role of immune cells in combating cancer and fighting viruses, providing new avenues for future treatments and therapies. With further research and development, these ILC2s could pave the way for innovative and effective treatment options for patients worldwide.
