Quantification of timelapse 3D tumor spheroid killing activity of NK cells using a live-cell imaging system.

ABSTRACT: Natural killer (NK) cells are critical components of the immune system, responsible for recognizing and eliminating a wide range of abnormal cells, including those infected by pathogens or transformed into cancerous cells. Their potent cytotoxic functions, encompassing the direct release of cytotoxic granules, antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC), and the expression of apoptosis-inducing ligands, make NK cells a promising therapeutic product in cancer immunotherapy. This study presents a detailed protocol for assessing NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids using a live-cell imaging system, offering a more physiologically relevant model compared to traditional 2D cultures. Utilizing this 3D spheroid model, we explored the dynamics of NK cell kil

SUBMITTER: Srisantitham J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12520373 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature