Human NK cells: from surface receptors to the therapy of leukemias and solid tumors

Lorenzo Moretta, Gabriella Pietra, Elisa Montaldo, Paola Vacca, Daniela Pende, Michela Falco, Genny Del Zotto, Franco Locatelli, Alessandro Moretta, Maria Cristina Mingari

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivista

Abstract

Natural Killer (NK) cells are major effector cells of the innate immunity. The discovery, over two decades ago, of major histocompatibility complex-class l-specific inhibitory NK receptors and subsequently of activating receptors, recognizing ligands expressed by tumor or virus-infected cells, paved the way to our understanding of the mechanisms of selective recognition and killing of tumor cells. Although NK cells can efficiently kill tumor cells of different histotypes in vitro, their activity may be limited in vivo by their inefficient trafficking to tumor lesions and by the inhibition of their function induced by tumor cells themselves and by the tumor microenvironment. On the other hand, the important role of NK cells has been clearly demonstrated in the therapy of high risk leukemias in the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation setting. NK cells derived from donor HSC kill leukemic cells residual after the conditioning regimen, thus preventing leukemia relapses. In addition, they also kill residual dendritic cells and T lymphocytes, thus preventing both GvH disease and graft rejection.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)N/A-N/A
RivistaFrontiers in Immunology
Volume5
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2014

Keywords

  • NK cells
  • activating NK receptors
  • acute leukemias
  • tumor microenvironment
  • hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • killer Ig-like receptors
  • alloreactive NK cells

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