iPSC-derived Immune Cells: Revolutionizing Immunotherapy and Disease Treatment

The field of immunotherapy is undergoing a transformative change, focusing increasingly on fighting disease pathogenesis through innovative cell-based approaches. Natural Killer (NK) and Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) cells are at the frontline, working to eliminate pathogenic threats and ensure a robust immune response. However, during prolonged or intense battles with disease, these immune cells often become exhausted, losing their capacity to function effectively. This creates an urgent need for fresh, functional immune cells that can replenish and sustain the immune defense. Recent findings have highlighted the potential of using reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate these critical immune cells, offering a promising avenue for overcoming immune exhaustion. Yet, challenges persist, particularly concerning the feasibility of deriving functional immune cells from diseased individuals' iPSCs, leading researchers to explore alternative allogeneic iPSC sources.

This Research Topic aims to explore the potential of functional NK and CTL immune response cells derived from reprogrammed iPSCs and their subsequent application in transplantation to combat various disease pathogeneses. The primary objectives include understanding how iPSCs can be effectively differentiated into these immune cells and determining their ability to adapt and perform robust immune responses when introduced in vivo. Key research questions revolve around the identification of immune-response-specific markers, the durability and longevity of transplanted cells, and their impact on diverse pathogenic environments. Additionally, the efficacy of allogeneic iPSC-derived immune cells in overcoming relapsed diseases and eradicating persistent infections will be investigated.

To gather further insights into the transplantation of iPSC-derived CTL and NK cells, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Cellular mechanisms underlying iPSC differentiation into NK and CTL cells

• Comparative studies on autologous versus allogeneic iPSC-derived immune cells

• Challenges in maintaining functionality and viability of transplanted immune cells

• Role of LKB1-RAB7-NRP1 interactions in pathogenicity and potential interventions

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs, immune responses, natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T- lymphocytes (CTLs), cancer stem cells, CSCs, HIV latency, hematopoietic/endothelial stem-progenitor cells (HSPC/ESPC), LKB1-RAB7-N

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.