title: NK cells and interferons.
abstract: The role of Natural Killer cells in host defense against infections as well as in tumour surveillance has been widely appreciated for a number of years. Upon recognition of "altered" cells, NK cells release the content of cytolytic granules, leading to the death of target cells. Moreover, NK cells are powerful producers of chemokines and cytokines, particularly Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), of which they are the earliest source upon a variety of infections. Despite being armed to fight against pathogens, NK cells become fully functional upon an initial phase of activation that requires the action of several cytokines, including type I IFNs. Type I IFNs are now recognized as key players in antiviral defense and immune regulation, and evidences from both mouse models of disease and in vitro studies support the existence of an alliance between type I IFNs and NK cells to ensure effective protection against viral infections. This review will focus on the role of type I IFNs in regulating NK cell functions to elicit antiviral response and on NK cell-produced IFN-γ beneficial and pathological effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molfetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy; IRCCS, Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy. Electronic address: angela.santoni@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D019409:Interleukin-15; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Antiviral response; Cytotoxicity; Interferon-γ; NK cells; Type I interferon