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Scientific Background
NK (natural killer) cells are part of the innate immune system. They function in a histocompatibility complex-independent mode and derive from the hematopoietic lineage. They are the first line of defense against cancer. Expression of marker CD56 correlates with NK cell functionality: the CD56bright subset accounts for about 5% of the population and is less cytotoxic than the CD56dim subset. Cytotoxicity can happen by the release of perforin and granzyme, while activation by KARs (killer activating receptors) leads to release of Fas Ligand, TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-alpha). In a suppressive tumor microenvironment, NK cells can become inhibited and unable to fight cancer cells. Several clinical trials have focused on using ex vivo generated NK cells alone or in combination with other approaches. NK cells can be generated ex vivo from peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, iPS cells or immortalized NK cell lines. The ability to generate a number of pure cells high enough for human dosage often requires the use of growth factors such as IL-2 (interleukin 2) or IL-15, and feeder cells. The use of NK cells or CAR (chimeric antigen receptor)-NK cells is an expanding area holding great promise in cancer therapy.
Product Description
The NK Cell Expansion Kit is suitable for the ex vivo culture and expansion of human natural killer (NK) cells. It contains engineered Growth-Arrested NK Feeder Cells and NK Cell Basal Medium. The Growth-Arrested NK Feeder Cells are K562 cells engineered to express membrane bound IL-21, and other components, to drive the robust activation and expansion of NK cells. The kit provides enough growth-arrested feeder cells for a starter population of 1 million purified NK cells or PBMC cells.
Applications
Culture and expansion of freshly isolated or frozen PBMC-derived NK cells, purified and non-purified.
Safety & Handling
For Research Use Only (RUO). Biosafety Level: BSL-1. Note: Troubleshooting Guide: Visit bpsbioscience.com/cell-line-faq for detailed troubleshooting instructions. For all further questions, please email support@bpsbioscience.com Consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use.
Avoid freeze/thaw cycles.This kit supports expansion of NK cells from both freshly isolated and cryopreserved PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), as well as from enriched NK cell fractions. The protocol accommodates non-purified PBMC input, simplifying workflow for researchers who want to avoid additional enrichment steps prior to expansion.
The standard expansion protocol typically requires 10–14 days in culture with the components provided in this kit, depending on starting cell density and the purity of the NK cell input. Refer to the product data sheet for the recommended seeding density, feeding schedule, and cytokine replenishment intervals for optimal NK cell fold expansion.
NK cells expanded using this kit retain cytotoxic function and cytokine secretion capacity, as demonstrated in peer-reviewed studies (Du N. et al., Cancers 2021). Expanded NK cells should be characterized by flow cytometry for NK cell markers (CD56+CD3−) and assessed for cytotoxic function against target cell lines in a standard cytotoxicity assay before use in downstream experiments.
No. This kit is for Research Use Only (RUO) and is not validated, certified, or intended for clinical-grade or GMP cell manufacturing applications. Researchers developing NK cell therapies for clinical use should work with GMP-grade media and materials compliant with applicable regulatory frameworks. Contact BPS Bioscience for information on any GMP-grade equivalents.
BioHippo partners with leading life science suppliers to offer flexible purchasing and support options. Contact our team to discuss the following add-on services.
- Bulk & Volume Pricing: Reduced per-unit pricing for multi-unit or project-scale orders. Submit a quote request for a customized offer.
- Expedited Fulfillment: Priority order handling may be available for time-sensitive projects. Confirm availability before ordering.
- Technical Consultation: Our scientific team provides protocol guidance and troubleshooting at no additional charge.
- Custom Configurations: Alternative formulations, pack sizes, or kit configurations may be available upon request.
Use the contact form or live chat on ebiohippo.com to connect with a product specialist.
- Du N., et al., 2021 Cancers (Basel) 13 (16): 4129.
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