24P miR-17-5p: A potential activator of natural killer cells through tuning STAT3/H19/ULBP2 axis in breast cancer

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are the first native invaders against malignancy. NK cells activity is regulated by an array of activating and inhibitory receptors present on their surface. UL-16 binding proteins (ULBP 1-6) are ligands expressed by malignant cells to be detected by NKG2D activating receptor and consequent eradication of transformed cells by NK cells. Breast cancer (BC) patients experience a shedding of ULBP2 ligand in an attempt to evade immune surveillance process exhibited by NK cells.