MIT reprograms NK cells inside mice to target cancer and autoimmune disease

MIT researchers reported on October 13 that lipid nanoparticles carrying mRNA programmed natural killer (NK) cells inside mice to target selected cells, with results in models of cancer and autoimmune hepatitis. The findings are preclinical and do not establish a treatment for people.

What the mouse experiments showed

The team reported programming about 80% of the targeted NK cells. In a melanoma model, three of five treated mice went into complete remission. In a humanized mouse model of T-cell lymphoma, tumors were eradicated after five injections.

In mice with autoimmune hepatitis, the researchers reported that one injection destroyed autoreactive T cells and allowed liver damage to heal. They hope to investigate other disorders driven by such cells, but the reported findings do not show whether the approach would work in people.

Why programming immune cells inside the body matters

A 2025 review in Nature Reviews Immunology describes engineering immune cells inside the body as an emerging way to simplify cell therapy by avoiding complex manufacturing of cells for individual patients. It also identifies challenges still facing the field. MIT's reported results add mouse-model evidence for this approach, while its clinical benefit remains untested.