Authors: Richa Sharma Asmita Das
Publish Date: 2013/12/24
Volume: 58, Issue: 1, Pages: 125-131
Abstract
Natural killer NK cells kill virusinfected and tumor target cells without prior sensitization Each NK cell expresses a multitude of activating and inhibitory receptors and the interplay of signals determines the outcome of NK cell activity NK cellmediated cytolysis of target cell involves polarized degranulation at effector–target interface Peripheral blood NK cell constitutes about 10 of lymphocytes and approximately 90 of peripheral blood NK cells are CD56dimCD16+ however there is a distinct subset of NK cells CD56brightCD16− expressed by certain lymphoid organs which are able to produce large amounts of cytokines including interferonγ tumor necrosis factor and granulocyte–macrophage colonystimulating factor but the cytotoxicity is attained only on their prolonged activation In this review we discuss the accumulated data on distinct phenotypes of NK cells in human uterus liver intestine skin and lung and also attempt to correlate their phenotype with corresponding activity and functions with significant stress on the role of NK cells in pathology in the specific organs Our detailed understanding of altered NK cell activity in different organs and their inherent cytotoxic activity against tumor target cells will help us design better immunotherapeutic strategies in NK cellmediated cancer therapies
Keywords: