Signal Transduction During Activation and Inhibition of Natural Killer Cells

作者：Carsten Watzl, Eric O. Long · 发表于：Current Protocols in Immunology · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1002/0471142735.im1109bs90 · 被引用次数：151 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、T-cell and B-cell Immunology、Reproductive System and Pregnancy

Natural killer (NK) cells are important for early immune responses to viral infections and cancer. Upon activation, NK cells secrete cytokines and chemokines, and kill sensitive target cells by releasing the content of cytolytic granules. This unit is focused on the signal transduction pathways that regulate NK cell activities in response to contact with other cells. We will highlight signals regulating NK cell adhesion to target cells and describe the induction of cellular cytotoxicity by the engagement of different NK cell activation receptors. Negative signaling induced by inhibitory receptors opposes NK cell activation and provides an important safeguard from NK cell reactivity toward normal, healthy cells. We will discuss the complex integration of the different signals that occur during interaction of NK cells with target cells.