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Natural killer cells: diversity in search of a niche

Nature Immunology volume 9, pages 473–475 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Over the years, the enigmatic lifestyle of natural killer (NK) cells has fascinated immunologists. Elucidating the principles governing NK cell biology is a constant source of surprise, as these lymphocytes often break the rules of lymphocyte 'behavior' established by their T and B cell counterparts. In this Focus issue, experts address how NK cells have secured a fundamental place in the immune system, how they 'see' their targets and how they participate in and influence immune responses. We now need to understand how environmental 'niches' condition the generation and function of distinct NK cell subsets in vivo. Ultimately, we can hope that unraveling the mysteries of how these atypical lymphocytes function will have an impact on human disease therapies.

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Figure 1: NK cells are generated, are maintained and perform their biological functions within the context of environmental niches.

Kim Caesar

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Acknowledgements

I thank the past and present members of the laboratory for collaboration, especially C. Vosshenrich, N. Huntington, O. Mandelboim, F. Colucci and S. Jonjić for discussions on NK cell biology. Supported by the Institut Pasteur, INSERM, Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer ('Equipe Labellisée'), Agence Nationale de la Recherche ('Maladies Rares'), Association Française contre les Myopathies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative.

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  1. Immunology Department, Cytokines and Lymphoid Development Unit, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, Paris, 75724, France

    James P Di Santo

  2. INSERM U668, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, Paris, 75724, France

    James P Di Santo

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Correspondence to James P Di Santo.

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Di Santo, J. Natural killer cells: diversity in search of a niche. Nat Immunol 9, 473–475 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.f.201

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