From the Guidelines
Natural killer (NK) cell therapy is not currently recommended for the treatment of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outside of clinical trials, as the evidence is largely experimental and not yet supported by high-quality studies. The most recent guidelines for the management of RA, such as those from the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 1 and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1, do not mention NK cell therapy as a recommended treatment option. Current treatment strategies for RA focus on the use of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs), and targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs) to achieve remission or low disease activity.
Current Treatment Options for RA
- csDMARDs: hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, leflunomide
- bDMARDs: TNF inhibitors (etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, certolizumab pegol), T cell costimulatory inhibitor (abatacept), IL-6 receptor inhibitors (tocilizumab, sarilumab), anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab)
- tsDMARDs: JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib)
Role of NK Cell Therapy in RA
While NK cell therapy has shown promise in early clinical trials, its role in the treatment of RA is still being investigated. NK cells have a dual role in promoting and suppressing inflammation, and modulating their activity may help reduce joint inflammation and pain in RA patients. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of NK cell therapy in RA.
Recommendations for Patients with RA
Patients with RA should discuss their treatment options with their healthcare provider and consider participating in clinical trials to access new and innovative therapies, including NK cell therapy. However, standard care for RA should still be prioritized, and patients should not delay or forego established treatments in favor of experimental therapies 1.
From the Research
Role of Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapy in Autoimmune Diseases
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to support the role of Natural Killer (NK) cell therapy in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies discuss various treatment options for RA, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs 2, 3, 4, 6.
- Cell-based therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells (Treg), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, have been explored as potential treatments for RA 2, 5.
- However, the specific role of NK cell therapy in the treatment of RA is not mentioned in the provided studies.
Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- The current treatment of RA consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs 2, 3, 4, 6.
- Biologic agents, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors, have been shown to be effective in reducing clinical signs of inflammation in RA patients who have failed synthetic DMARDs 6.
- Cell-based therapies, such as MSC and Treg, have been explored as potential treatments for RA, but their effectiveness and safety need to be further investigated 2, 5.