title: Natural killer lymphocytes: biology, development, and function.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes represent the first line of defense against virally infected cells and tumor cells. The role of NK cells in immune responses has been markedly explored, mainly due to the identification of NK cell receptors and their ligands, but also through the analysis of mechanisms underlying the effects of various cytokines on NK cell development and function. A population of lymphocytes that shares function and receptors with NK cells is represented by natural killer T (NKT) cells. NKT lymphocytes are regulators of both innate and adaptive immune responses, but have also been reported to function as effector antitumor cells. The marked progress in our understanding of the biology, development, and function of NK/NKT cells has provided the basis for their potential application in tumor clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22, Athens, Greece. papmail@hellasnet.gr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papamichail
authors.forename: Sonia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Angelos D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gritzapis
authors.forename: Constantin N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Baxevanis
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma