The role of natural killer cells in curbing neuroinflammation.
Natural killer (NK) cells are evolutionarily early lymphocytes that lack antigen-specific receptors and, hence, are considered to be part of the innate immune system. The majority of research on NK cells has focused on their ability to lyse "target cells", generally identified by low or absent MHC Class I expression, such as tumor cells and virus infected cells. However, an alternative role of these leukocytes as regulators of adaptive (and potentially destructive) immune responses, in particular organ-specific autoimmune diseases, has been increasingly recognized. Here we discuss the growing body of evidence that NK cells limit damage in autoimmune demyelinating disease by inhibiting autoreactive T cell responses without harming resident neurons or glia.
Segal
Benjamin M
BM
Department of Neurology, U-M Multiple Sclerosis Program and Holtom-Garrett Neuroimmunology Laboratory, University of Michigan, 4009 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA. bmsegal@med.umich.edu
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D002465:Cell Movement; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000502:physiology
D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; C095235:CX3CR1 protein, human; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine