CD28 is superior to 4-1BB costimulation in generating CAR-NK cells for tumor immunotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK therapy holds great potential for tumor treatment, but current CAR designs are primarily optimized for T cells, raising concerns about their suitability for NK cells. This study compared two dominant CAR designs used in T cells-CD28-CD3ζ (28z) and 4-1BB-CD3ζ (BBz)-and found that CD28 costimulation offers superior functionality in NK cells. 28z CAR-NK cells exhibited significantly better activation, cytotoxicity, and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy than BBz CAR-NK cells, with similar persistence and tumor infiltration. 28z CAR more effectively recruited the ZAP70 kinase and upregulated multiple key factors involved in immune activation, potentially augmenting CAR-NK cell function. MAP3K8, a kinase involved in inflammation and the MAPK signaling pathway, was id

SUBMITTER: Zhang P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874623 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature