HSPC-NK cells in combination with HMAs potently combat primary AML cells in vitro. (A) Experimental design: Primary AML cells obtained from 5 different patients at diagnosis were stained with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester and cultured in the presence of AZA or DAC using the indicated concentrations (5 × 104 AML cells per well). One day after, HSPC-NK cells (2.5 × 105 cells per well) were added and the drugs were refreshed daily. The numbers of viable AML cells were determined by FCM at day+3 of coculture. (B) Median HSPC-NK cell survival at day+3 (combined data obtained with 5 different primary AML samples). The number of NK cells quantified without HMAs was set at 100%. (C) Median AML cell survival at day+3 (combined data obtained with 5 different primary AML samples). The number of AML cells quantified without HMAs and NK cells is set at 100%. Data depicted in panels B-C represent combined data obtained with 5 different primary AML samples and were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA. ***P < .001; **P < .01. n.s., not significant. (D-E) The survival of AML cells from 2 different patients (pAML #4 and pAML #5) and corresponding effect of NK cells quantified at day+3 are depicted as the mean ± SEM of data obtained with 4 different HSPC-NK cell donors. Data were analyzed with 2-way ANOVA. ***P < .001; *P < .05. “No NK” is indicated by open bars; “+NK” is indicated by solid bars (D). n.s., not significant.
