Natural killer cells, viruses and cancer.
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.
Cerwenka
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Cancer Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0414, USA.
Lanier
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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*
D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell