Natural Killer Cells: Deciphering Their Role, Diversity and Functions

摘要: Natural killer (NK) cells represent the third largest lymphoid cell population in mammals and are critical innate immune responses. These express a large repertoire of receptors, named inhibitors activators that mediate their function. NK occur naturally, do not require previous sensitization to engage activity distributed blood, as circulating cells, other organs body resident cells. No longer considered simple “killing machines,” have gained recognition for abilities secrete cytokines/chemokines influence differentiation adaptive responses, control viral/parasitic infections participate pathological physiological mechanisms such transplant rejection vascularization implanting embryos during pregnancy. Here, we describe detail ontogeny role immunity from point view phenotypic features functional activities well function health disease. We also discuss immunological events murine models. This review aims highlight what is currently known remains be understood about these essential