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Tolerance and reactivity of NK cells: Two sides of the same coin?
Author(s) -
Held Werner
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.200838755
Subject(s) - biology , interleukin 12 , microbiology and biotechnology , interleukin 21 , endogeny , janus kinase 3 , cell , nk 92 , immunology , lymphokine activated killer cell , in vitro , cytotoxic t cell , t cell , immune system , genetics , biochemistry
Abstract NK cells can kill transformed, infected and stressed cells while most normal cells are spared. NK cells are activated by various endogenous self‐ligands, some of which are actually expressed by normal cells. Thus, NK cells are inherently self‐reactive and consequently, potentially auto‐aggressive. How these cells are prevented from attacking normal cells while ensuring reactivity to diseased cells is a major unresolved question for NK‐cell biologists.