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Human natural killer cells in health and disease
Author(s) -
Shereck Evan,
Satwani Prakash,
Morris Erin,
Cairo Mitchell S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.21158
Subject(s) - immunology , immune system , medicine , transplantation , immunotherapy , major histocompatibility complex , stem cell , cancer immunotherapy , natural killer cell , adoptive cell transfer , innate immune system , cancer research , biology , t cell , cytotoxicity , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Natural killer (NK) cells are an essential component of the innate immune system and play a critical role in tumor immune surveillance. NK cells express their own repertoire of receptors (NKRs) that bind to major histocompatibility class I or class I‐like molecules. The balance of signals from stimulation or inhibition of NKRs determines the ability of NK cells to lyse specific targets. In haploidentical stem cell transplantation with purified stem cells, NK cell alloreactivity (killer immunoglobulin‐like receptor [KIR] mismatch) has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia. There is a need for adequately powered prospective randomized studies to determine the usefulness of NK cells as adoptive immunotherapy, optimal NK cell doses and timing of administration. Further studies are required to determine optimal selection of donors and recipients, both on NKR matching/mismatching, undergoing haploidentical and unrelated hematopoetic stem cell transplantation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:615–623. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.