Allogeneic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK cell therapy

Class

Allogeneic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK cell therapy

Pathway

Innate NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune lymphocytes that recognize and destroy abnormal cells, such as tumor or virus-infected cells, without requiring prior antigen exposure. They achieve this through a balance of activating and inhibitory surface receptors that sense stress signals and the presence or absence of normal self-markers on target cells. This class of therapy generates NK cells starting from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — cells reprogrammed from a donor source to an embryonic-like state capable of differentiating into any cell type, including NK cells. Because iPSCs can be expanded and banked indefinitely, they allow production of large, uniform, allogeneic (donor-derived, not patient-specific) batches of NK cells that can be manufactured consistently and administered to many recipients, in contrast to therapies requiring individualized cell collection. The biological rationale for engaging NK-mediated cytotoxicity is its rapid, antigen-independent action against malignant cells, complementing adaptive immune approaches such as T-cell therapies or antibodies. This mechanism is broadly relevant in oncology, where tumors often evade T-cell recognition, and NK cells offer an alternative route to cytotoxic elimination, potentially as monotherapy or combined with antibody-based agents that enhance NK engagement.