title: Natural killer cells, viruses and cancer.
abstract: Natural killer cells are innate immune cells that control certain microbial infections and tumours. The function of natural killer cells is regulated by a balance between signals transmitted by activating receptors, which recognize ligands on tumours and virus-infected cells, and inhibitory receptors specific for major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Here, we review the emerging evidence that natural killer cells have an important role in vivo in immune defence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Cancer Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0414, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerwenka
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lanier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell