title: The immunophenotypic attributes of NK cells and NK-cell lineage lymphoproliferative disorders.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are a distinct lymphocyte subset that, like cytotoxic T cells, recognize and destroy abnormal self-cells. Unlike T cells, however, NK cells lack a uniquely rearranged antigen receptor gene or a single defining immunophenotypic attribute. Furthermore, there is considerable functional and phenotypic overlap between NK cells and cytotoxic T cells, and the latter are induced by cellular activation to express many NK-associated antigens. These factors all contribute to difficulties in recognizing abnormal NK-cell expansions and distinguishing them from cytotoxic T cells in the clinical laboratory. Recently, new classes of NK-associated major histocompatibility complex receptors have been described that can be of value in evaluating NK-cell and cytotoxic T-cell populations. In this review, immunophenotyping approaches using antibodies to traditional and novel T- and NK- associated antigens that can be used to evaluate these cell types and diagnose NK-cell and cytotoxic T-cell disorders in the clinical laboratory setting are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Morice
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor