title: Organ-specific features of natural killer cells.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells can be swiftly mobilized by danger signals and are among the earliest arrivals at target organs of disease. However, the role of NK cells in mounting inflammatory responses is often complex and sometimes paradoxical. Here, we examine the divergent phenotypic and functional features of NK cells, as deduced largely from experimental mouse models of pathophysiological responses in the liver, mucosal tissues, uterus, pancreas, joints and brain. Moreover, we discuss how organ-specific factors, the local microenvironment and unique cellular interactions may influence the organ-specific properties of NK cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China. fshi66@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fu-Dong
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hans-Gustaf
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Ljunggren
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Cava
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Kaer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007596:Joints / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine