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Interplay of natural killer cells and their receptors with the adaptive immune response

Nature Immunology volume 5, pages 996–1002 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Although natural killer (NK) cells are defined as a component of the innate immune system, they exhibit certain features generally considered characteristic of the adaptive immune system. NK cells also participate directly in adaptive immune responses, mainly by interacting with dendritic cells. Such interactions can positively or negatively regulate dendritic cell activity. Reciprocally, dendritic cells regulate NK cell function. In addition, 'NK receptors' are frequently expressed by T cells and can directly regulate the functions of these cells. In these distinct ways, NK cells and their receptors influence the adaptive immune response.

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Figure 1: Comparison of some features of the formation of the NK cell and T cell repertoires.

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Figure 2: Comparison of NK cell and T cell activation and 'clonal expansion'.

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Figure 3: Reciprocal interactions of NK cells and DCs may influence the adaptive immune response.

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Acknowledgements

I thank past and present laboratory colleagues for discussions that led to some of the ideas presented in this review, and the National Institutes of Health for grants that supported research in my laboratory.

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  1. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Cancer Research Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-3200, California, USA

    David H Raulet

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Raulet, D. Interplay of natural killer cells and their receptors with the adaptive immune response. Nat Immunol 5, 996–1002 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1114

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