Development of a new CAR-NK cell derived from cord blood

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19508
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 54:Internal medicine of the bio-information integration and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Hosen Naoki 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (10456923)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞医薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

CAR-NK cells can be generated from a single cord blood donor for many patients, which may reduce the cost for cell manufacturing compared with that for CAR-T cells. We have already developed a CAR that targets activated integrin beta7 (hereafter referred to as MMG49 CAR). In this study, we introduced MMG49 CAR into human cord blood mononuclear cells to generate CAR-NK cells according to previous reports. MMG49 CAR-NK cells showed significant cytotoxic activity against myeloma cells. Furthermore, single cell RNA seq analysis of MMG49 CAR-NK cells was performed, revealing diverse cell subpopulations. We are currently analyzing the function of each cell subpopulation.

Free Research Field

血液内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、わが国で初めて臍帯血由来CAR-NK細胞を臨床開発するための道筋が開かれた。今後、多発性骨髄腫に対してMMMG49 CAR-NK細胞を臨床開発していくとともに、様々ながん種に対して新たなターゲットに対する様々なCAR-NK細胞の開発が可能である。また、CAR-NK細胞のheterogeneityの解明が進むことにより、より効率的に抗腫瘍効果の高い細胞集団を誘導する方法が開発されることにつながる。現時点では既報に則ったCAR-NK細胞を行っているが将来的には、その製造法も独自のものを開発していく予定である。