title: Human natural killer cells.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells were discovered more than 30 years ago. NK cells are large granular lymphocytes that belong to the innate immune system because unlike T or B lymphocytes of the adaptive or antigen-specific immune system, NK cells do not rearrange T-cell receptor or immunoglobulin genes from their germline configuration. During the past 2 decades there has been a substantial gain in our understanding of what and how NK-cells "see," lending important insights into their functions and purpose in normal immune surveillance. The most recent discoveries in NK-cell receptor biology have fueled translational research that has led to remarkable results in treating human malignancy.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute, 300 West 10th St, Rm 517, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. michael.caligiuri@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Caligiuri
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma