Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are critical for targeting and killing tumor, virus-infected and stressed cells as a member of the innate immune system. Recently, NK cells have also emerged as key regulators of adaptive immunity and have become a prominent therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy and infection control. NK cells display a diverse array of phenotypes and function. Determining how NK cells develop and are regulated is critical for understanding their role in both innate and adaptive immunity. In this review we discuss current research approaches into NK cell adaptive immunity and how these cells are being harnessed for improving cancer and vaccination outcomes.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Microbes and Innate Immunity, a section of the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection
Natural killer (NK) cell activation is governed by the ligand-receptor interactions of the activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on the NK cell surface (Tassi et al, 2006; Lanier, 2008; Bryceson et al, 2011)
It is through these receptors that NK cells learn tolerance of self through HLA-I molecules, which serve as ligands to inhibitory killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) (Ljunggren and Karre, 1990; Campbell and Purdy, 2011)
Summary
Natural Killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic granular lymphoid cells that develop from a common progenitor of B and T cells (Kondo et al, 1997; Abel et al, 2018). NK cell activation is governed by the ligand-receptor interactions of the activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on the NK cell surface (Tassi et al, 2006; Lanier, 2008; Bryceson et al, 2011). NK cells have killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) that are vital to the normal function of NK cells and are critical for the education of NK cells. It is through these receptors that NK cells learn tolerance of self through HLA-I molecules, which serve as ligands to inhibitory KIRs (Ljunggren and Karre, 1990; Campbell and Purdy, 2011). Diversity of KIR genotypes among individuals that contribute to KIR-HLA interactions have implications for NK cell function and response against tumors and viruses
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