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Escape of tumor cells from the NK cell cytotoxic activity
Author(s) -
Cantoni Claudia,
Wurzer Hannah,
Thomas Clément,
Vitale Massimo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.2mr0820-652r
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , biology , lymphokine activated killer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , interleukin 21 , innate lymphoid cell , interleukin 12 , nk 92 , immune system , chemokine , tumor microenvironment , immunological synapse , effector , cancer cell , immunology , acquired immune system , t cell , cancer , in vitro , biochemistry , t cell receptor , genetics
In recent years, NK cells, initially identified as potent cytotoxic effector cells, have revealed an unexpected complexity, both at phenotypic and functional levels. The discovery of different NK cell subsets, characterized by distinct gene expression and phenotypes, was combined with the characterization of the diverse functions NK cells can exert, not only as circulating cells, but also as cells localized or recruited in lymphoid organs and in multiple tissues. Besides the elimination of tumor and virus‐infected cells, these functions include the production of cytokines and chemokines, the regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells, the influence on tissue homeostasis. In addition, NK cells display a remarkable functional plasticity, being able to adapt to the environment and to develop a kind of memory. Nevertheless, the powerful cytotoxic activity of NK cells remains one of their most relevant properties, particularly in the antitumor response. In this review, the process of tumor cell recognition and killing mediated by NK cells, starting from the generation of cytolytic granules and recognition of target cell, to the establishment of the NK cell immunological synapse, the release of cytotoxic molecules, and consequent tumor cell death is described. Next, the review focuses on the heterogeneous mechanisms, either intrinsic to tumors or induced by the tumor microenvironment, by which cancer cells can escape the NK cell‐mediated attack.