Tolerance and reactivity of NK cells: two sides of the same coin?
NK cells can kill transformed, infected and stressed cells while most normal cells are spared. NK cells are activated by various endogenous self-ligands, some of which are actually expressed by normal cells. Thus, NK cells are inherently self-reactive and consequently, potentially auto-aggressive. How these cells are prevented from attacking normal cells while ensuring reactivity to diseased cells is a major unresolved question for NK-cell biologists.
Held
Werner
W
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland. Werner.Held@licr.unil.ch
D000818:Animals; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I