title: Human NK cells and NK receptors.
abstract: In early seventies "natural killer (NK) cells", a third lymphocyte subset was discovered that revealed an unexpected ability to kill syngeneic and allogeneic tumor targets, thus emerging as the most potent non-specific cytotoxic cells in both human and mouse. Decades of research revealed the multifaceted nature of these cells. Now we know that NK cells are highly specific cells able to discriminate between self (which is spared) and non-self (which is attacked). Most of the specific and non HLA-specific surface receptors involved in NK cell recognition and function have been identified and, to date, only few of them still remain orphans. We also know that NK cells contribute to both innate and adaptive immune responses, interact with other immune cell types and release type 1 cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, fundamental data are accumulating on NK cell development and migration under both physiological and pathological conditions. The time is arrived to exploit these cells in the cure of cancer patients. While encouraging results emerged in hematological malignances, the road to treat solid tumors using NK cells is still covered by obstacles that hamper their function and that just begin to be unveiled.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via L.B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellora
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via L.B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castriconi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via L.B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dondero
authors.affiliation: Istituto Giannina Gaslini, L.go G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrega
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS and Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Messina and A.O.U. Policlinico "G.Martino", Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferlazzo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via L.B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via L.B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genova, Italy; Istituto Giannina Gaslini, L.go G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: Cristina.Bottino@unige.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottino
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
keywords: Anti-tumor activity; Human NK cells; Ligands; Migration; Receptors; Subsets