Development and maturation of natural killer cells. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geiger, Theresa L; Sun, Joseph C
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in immunology. Volume 39(2016)
• Page Start: 82
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; Allergy -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.01.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0952-7915

Abstract

Highlights: How do NK cells diverge from other innate lymphocyte cell fates? Transcription factors key in early NK cell development include Nfil3, Ets family. Transcription factors critical for NK cell maturation include Id2, T-bet, Eomes. Activating cytokines, STATs control NK cell cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production. Apoptosis and autophagy regulate development of memory NK cells. Abstract : Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that are critical for host protection against pathogens and cancer due to their ability to rapidly release inflammatory cytokines and kill infected or transformed cells. In the 40 years since their initial discovery, much has been learned about how this important cellular lineage develops and functions. We now know that NK cells are the founding members of an expanded family of lymphocyte known as innate lymphoid cells (ILC). Furthermore, we have recently discovered that NK cells can possess features of adaptive immunity such as antigen specificity and long-lived memory responses. Here we will review our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving development of NK cells from the common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) to mature NK cells, and from activated effectors to long-lived memory NK cells.