NK cells

NK (natural killer) cells are a population of lymphocytes with both innate and adaptive immune features. They produce cytotoxic molecules and can eliminate infected cells or cancer cells.

Latest Research and Reviews

Research
11 January 2021 | Open Access

Taurocholic acid inhibits the response to interferon-α therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B by impairing CD8⁺ T and NK cell function
- Zhen Xun
- , Jinpiao Lin
- , Qingqing Yu
- , Can Liu
- , Jinlan Huang
- , Hongyan Shang
- , Jianhui Guo
- , Yuchen Ye
- , Wennan Wu
- , Yongbin Zeng
- , Songhang Wu
- , Siyi Xu
- , Tianbin Chen
- , Jing Chen
- & Qishui Ou
Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 1-11
Research
25 November 2020 | Open Access

Cellular and gene signatures of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells and natural-killer cells predict prognosis of neuroblastoma

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes play a crucial role in neuroblastoma, but their relationship to other immune cells is poorly understood. Here the authors identify the cellular and gene signatures of intratumoural dendritic cells and natural killer cells that predict the clinical outcome of neuroblastoma.
- Ombretta Melaiu
- , Marco Chierici
- , Valeria Lucarini
- , Giuseppe Jurman
- , Libenzio Adrian Conti
- , Rita De Vito
- , Renata Boldrini
- , Loredana Cifaldi
- , Aurora Castellano
- , Cesare Furlanello
- , Vincenzo Barnaba
- , Franco Locatelli
- & Doriana Fruci
Nature Communications 11, 5992
Research
15 October 2020 | Open Access

Unique immunological profile in patients with COVID-19
- Stefania Varchetta
- , Dalila Mele
- , Barbara Oliviero
- , Stefania Mantovani
- , Serena Ludovisi
- , Antonella Cerino
- , Raffaele Bruno
- , Alberto Castelli
- , Mario Mosconi
- , Marco Vecchia
- , Silvia Roda
- , Michele Sachs
- , Catherine Klersy
- & Mario U. Mondelli
Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 1-9
Research
14 September 2020 | Open Access

Flexible ZnO-mAb nanoplatforms for selective peripheral blood mononuclear cell immobilization
- K. Sowri Babu
- , Pedro F. Pinheiro
- , Cátia F. Marques
- , Gonçalo C. Justino
- , Suzana M. Andrade
- & Marta M. Alves
Scientific Reports 10, 15018
Research | 03 August 2020

ILC2-driven innate immune checkpoint mechanism antagonizes NK cell antimetastatic function in the lung

Pathological group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have mainly been implicated in allergy. Halim and colleagues demonstrate that ILC2s orchestrate a prometastatic pathway via the recruitment of eosinophils that suppress NK cell function.
- Martijn J. Schuijs
- , Shaun Png
- , Arianne C. Richard
- , Anastasia Tsyben
- , Gregory Hamm
- , Julie Stockis
- , Celine Garcia
- , Silvain Pinaud
- , Ashley Nicholls
- , Xavier Romero Ros
- , Jing Su
- , Matthew D. Eldridge
- , Angela Riedel
- , Eva M. Serrao
- , Hans-Reimer Rodewald
- , Matthias Mack
- , Jacqueline D. Shields
- , E. Suzanne Cohen
- , Andrew N. J. McKenzie
- , Richard J. A. Goodwin
- , Kevin M. Brindle
- , John C. Marioni
- & Timotheus Y. F. Halim
Nature Immunology 21, 998-1009
Reviews | 24 June 2020

The cancer–natural killer cell immunity cycle

This Review discusses the key role that natural killer (NK) cells play in driving an antitumour immune response throughout the progression of cancer from its initial development to its metastatic spread and eventual treatment, defined herein as the cancer–NK cell immunity cycle.
- Nicholas D. Huntington
- , Joseph Cursons
- & Jai Rautela
Nature Reviews Cancer 20, 437-454

All Research & Reviews

News and Comment

Correspondence | 08 January 2021

Increased expression of adenosine A3 receptor in tumor-infiltrating natural killer cells
- Jiacheng Bi
- , Chaoyue Zheng
- & Xiaohu Zheng
Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 1-2
Research Highlights | 01 September 2020

Killing via nanotubes

To protect from infection and preserve maternal–fetal tolerance, decidual natural killer cells deliver cytotoxic effectors through nanotubes to selectively kill intracellular bacteria and not the host cell.
- Lucy Bird
Nature Reviews Immunology 20, 592-593
News & Views | 24 August 2020

NKG7 makes a better killer

New studies suggest that NKG7 is essential for NK and CD8⁺ T cell cytotoxic degranulation and CD4⁺ T cell activation and proinflammatory responses. While the mechanism is yet to be determined, the functional relevance is exciting and opens the possibility of a new target for cellular immunotherapies.
- Subramaniam Malarkannan
Nature Immunology 21, 1139-1140
News & Views | 03 August 2020

Make killers sweeter: targeting metabolic checkpoints of NK cells

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) closely intersect with antitumor immunity. A new study describes how activation of lung-resident ILC2s orchestrates the suppression of natural killer cell–mediated innate antitumor immunity via an eosinophil-mediated metabolic mechanism.
- Haiming Wei
- & Binqing Fu
Nature Immunology 21, 970-971
Research Highlights | 25 May 2020

Bystanders or real players: virtual memory T cells keep chronic infections in check
- Kylie M. Quinn
- & Tabinda Hussain
Cellular & Molecular Immunology 17, 797-798
Comments & Opinion | 07 May 2020

NKG2A and COVID-19: another brick in the wall
- Luca Antonioli
- , Matteo Fornai
- , Carolina Pellegrini
- & Corrado Blandizzi
Cellular & Molecular Immunology 17, 672-674

All News & Comment

NK cells

Latest Research and Reviews

Taurocholic acid inhibits the response to interferon-α therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B by impairing CD8⁺ T and NK cell function

Cellular and gene signatures of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells and natural-killer cells predict prognosis of neuroblastoma

Unique immunological profile in patients with COVID-19

Flexible ZnO-mAb nanoplatforms for selective peripheral blood mononuclear cell immobilization

ILC2-driven innate immune checkpoint mechanism antagonizes NK cell antimetastatic function in the lung

The cancer–natural killer cell immunity cycle

News and Comment

Increased expression of adenosine A3 receptor in tumor-infiltrating natural killer cells

Killing via nanotubes

NKG7 makes a better killer

Make killers sweeter: targeting metabolic checkpoints of NK cells

Bystanders or real players: virtual memory T cells keep chronic infections in check

NKG2A and COVID-19: another brick in the wall

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