Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway

The application of CAR T therapy has significantly improved the efficacy of hematological tumors. However, there are still some challenges in the treatment of solid tumors, mainly because the complex immune microenvironment affects the proliferation of T cells, making T cells unable to function well...

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Main Authors: Yiran Chen, Chenxu Jin, Dandan Guo, Xinhui Hui, Yuzhou Ji, Yunhe Huang, Min Xue, Yaoxin Gao, Yaojun Ren, Haizhen Lin, Ying Zhou, Wenzheng Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1498706/full
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author Yiran Chen
Chenxu Jin
Dandan Guo
Xinhui Hui
Yuzhou Ji
Yunhe Huang
Min Xue
Yaoxin Gao
Yaojun Ren
Yaojun Ren
Haizhen Lin
Ying Zhou
Wenzheng Jiang
author_facet Yiran Chen
Chenxu Jin
Dandan Guo
Xinhui Hui
Yuzhou Ji
Yunhe Huang
Min Xue
Yaoxin Gao
Yaojun Ren
Yaojun Ren
Haizhen Lin
Ying Zhou
Wenzheng Jiang
author_sort Yiran Chen
collection DOAJ
description The application of CAR T therapy has significantly improved the efficacy of hematological tumors. However, there are still some challenges in the treatment of solid tumors, mainly because the complex immune microenvironment affects the proliferation of T cells, making T cells unable to function well. IL-15 has been reported to be a cytokine that can activate T cells and promote the proliferation and survival of T cells, especially CD8+ T cells. The complex formed by the high-affinity binding of IL-15 and IL-15Rα can bind to IL-2/IL-15Rβ/γ heterodimer on the surface of T cells, thereby activating downstream signaling pathways in T cells. In this study, we explored the activity of NKG2D-CAR T expressing IL-15/IL-15Rα complex (IL15C) on pancreatic cancer. The results of in vitro experiments showed that CAR T cells expressing IL15C had a stronger killing effect on tumor cells and showed a dose-dependent effect. In addition, the proliferation and anti-apoptosis levels of CAR T cells were enhanced after the co-expression of IL15C. IL15C regulates the function of T cells by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway of T cells. In vivo experiments showed that IL15C-NKG2D-CAR T cells could better inhibit tumor growth than the control group. This study provides a new idea for improving the efficacy of CAR T cells in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-36fcc3d23b1c4cc196223d3b8da8c2d32025-08-20T03:47:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.14987061498706Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathwayYiran Chen0Chenxu Jin1Dandan Guo2Xinhui Hui3Yuzhou Ji4Yunhe Huang5Min Xue6Yaoxin Gao7Yaojun Ren8Yaojun Ren9Haizhen Lin10Ying Zhou11Wenzheng Jiang12Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaThe application of CAR T therapy has significantly improved the efficacy of hematological tumors. However, there are still some challenges in the treatment of solid tumors, mainly because the complex immune microenvironment affects the proliferation of T cells, making T cells unable to function well. IL-15 has been reported to be a cytokine that can activate T cells and promote the proliferation and survival of T cells, especially CD8+ T cells. The complex formed by the high-affinity binding of IL-15 and IL-15Rα can bind to IL-2/IL-15Rβ/γ heterodimer on the surface of T cells, thereby activating downstream signaling pathways in T cells. In this study, we explored the activity of NKG2D-CAR T expressing IL-15/IL-15Rα complex (IL15C) on pancreatic cancer. The results of in vitro experiments showed that CAR T cells expressing IL15C had a stronger killing effect on tumor cells and showed a dose-dependent effect. In addition, the proliferation and anti-apoptosis levels of CAR T cells were enhanced after the co-expression of IL15C. IL15C regulates the function of T cells by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway of T cells. In vivo experiments showed that IL15C-NKG2D-CAR T cells could better inhibit tumor growth than the control group. This study provides a new idea for improving the efficacy of CAR T cells in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1498706/fullNKG2DCAR TIL-15pancreatic carcinomaJAK/STAT5
spellingShingle Yiran Chen
Chenxu Jin
Dandan Guo
Xinhui Hui
Yuzhou Ji
Yunhe Huang
Min Xue
Yaoxin Gao
Yaojun Ren
Yaojun Ren
Haizhen Lin
Ying Zhou
Wenzheng Jiang
Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
Frontiers in Immunology
NKG2D
CAR T
IL-15
pancreatic carcinoma
JAK/STAT5
title Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
title_full Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
title_fullStr Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
title_full_unstemmed Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
title_short Co-expression of IL-15/IL-15Ra complex enhances NKG2D-CAR T cell-mediated anti-pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway
title_sort co expression of il 15 il 15ra complex enhances nkg2d car t cell mediated anti pancreatic cancer immunity by activating the jak stat5 signaling pathway
topic NKG2D
CAR T
IL-15
pancreatic carcinoma
JAK/STAT5
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1498706/full
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