Tricking the balance: NK cells in anti-cancer immunity

摘要: Natural Killer (NK) cells are classically considered innate immune effector involved in the first line of defense against infected and malignant cells. More recently, NK have emerged to acquire properties adaptive immunity response certain viral infections such as expansion specific cell subsets long-lasting virus-specific responses secondary challenges. distinguish healthy from abnormal by measuring net input activating inhibitory signals perceived target through surface receptors. Acquisition ligands combination with reduced expression MHC class I molecules on virus-infected cancer activates cytotoxicity release immunostimulatory cytokines like IFN-γ. In microenvironment however, become functionally impaired factors produced immunosuppressive Here we review recent progress role immunity. We describe regulatory tumor function which determine destruction or escape recognition. Finally, strategies that focus exploiting anti-cancer for immunotherapeutic approaches outlined.