Abstract

The natural killer (NK)-cell immunological synapse is the dynamic interface formed between an NK cell and its target cell. Formation of the NK-cell immunological synapse involves several distinct stages, from the initiation of contact with a target cell to the directed delivery of lytic-granule contents for target-cell lysis. Progression through the individual stages is regulated, and this tight regulation underlies the precision with which NK cells select and kill susceptible target cells (including virally infected cells and cancerous cells) that they encounter during their routine surveillance of the body.

Author affiliations

1. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Joseph Stokes Jr Research Institute of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, ARC 1016H, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
   Email: Orange@mail.med.upenn.edu

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