Cell-based immunotherapies for infectious diseases: current evidence and translational perspectives on cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells

The persistent global burden of infectious diseases, compounded by environmental challenges, emerging pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance, underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antimicrobial agents. Cell based immunotherapies, which harness the body’s immune system to combat pathogens, have gained increasing attention for their potential to provide targeted, durable, and adaptive responses. Recently, we demonstrated that clinically licensed cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, used in cancer treatment, significantly reduced Plasmodium -infected erythrocytes in vitro. This review focuses on the emerging role of CIK cells in infectious disease therapy, positioning them alongside other prominent immune effector cells such as CTLs, γδT cells, and NK cells. We explore the biology, recognition mechanisms, their potential feature, and cytotoxic functions of these cell populations, distinguishing direct findings in infection-specific CIK studies from mechanisms characterized in oncology or other cytotoxic lymphocytes. While CTLs, γδT cells, and NK cells have been extensively studied for their roles in early and adaptive immune responses, CIK cells traditionally investigated in oncology, are now being recognized for their potential in antiviral and antimicrobial immunity. Alongside with CTLs, γδT cells, and NK cells, we detail CIK cell phenotypes, activation strategies, effector functions, and the limited but growing body of evidence supporting their application in some viral infections. The available findings support further investigation of CIK cells as a candidate approach in selected infectious settings, while their broader antimicrobial applicability, comparative efficacy, target specificity, safety, and clinical benefit require further evaluation in these settings.