Open AccessHuman NK cells: From development to effector functions
Author(s) -
Arosh S. Perera Molligoda Arachchige
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
innate immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.921
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1753-4267
pISSN - 1753-4259
DOI - 10.1177/17534259211001512
Subject(s) - biology , lymphokine activated killer cell , cytotoxic t cell , effector , microbiology and biotechnology , interleukin 21 , natural killer cell , janus kinase 3 , immunology , interleukin 12 , immune system , cancer immunotherapy , nk 92 , immunotherapy , receptor , cytotoxicity , innate immune system , t cell , in vitro , biochemistry
NK cells are the major lymphocyte subset of the innate immune system that mediates antiviral and anti-tumor responses. It is well established that they develop mechanisms to distinguish self from non-self during the process of NK cell education. Unlike T and B cells, natural killer cells lack clonotypic receptors and are activated after recognizing their target via germline-encoded receptors through natural cytotoxicity, cytokine stimulation, and Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Subsequently, they utilize cytotoxic granules, death receptor ligands, and cytokines to perform their effector functions. In this review, we provide a general overview of human NK cells, as opposed to murine NK cells, discussing their ontogeny, maturation, receptor diversity, types of responses, and effector functions. Furthermore, we also describe recent advances in human NK cell biology, including tissue-resident NK cell populations, NK cell memory, and novel approaches used to target NK cells in cancer immunotherapy.