Human natural killer cells: Molecular mechanisms controlling NK cell activation and tumor cell lysis
2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 100; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.imlet.2005.07.004
ISSN1879-0542
AutoresLorenzo Moretta, Cristina Bottino, Daniela Pende, Massimo Vitale, Maria Cristina Mingari, Alessandro Moretta,
Tópico(s)Reproductive System and Pregnancy
ResumoNatural killer cells represent a highly specialized lymphoid population with a potent cytolytic activity against virus-infected or tumor cells. Their function is regulated by a series of inhibiting or activating signals. The mechanisms by which NK cells kill susceptible target cells was thought to be elucidated after the discovery of inhibitory receptors specific for MHC-class I molecules: NK cells would kill those target cells that lack MHC-class I molecules. However, the actual scenario revealed more complex with the discovery of activating receptors and their ligands. Thus, in certain pathological conditions, corticosteroid treatment or exposure to TGFβ, NK cells may under-express activating receptors. In addition, target cells may lack ligands for activating receptors and thus fail to activate NK cells upon cell-to-cell contact. This clearly implies that activation of NK cells and of their potent effector mechanism are under the control of different checkpoints.
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