title: Markers and function of human NK cells in normal and pathological conditions.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells, the most important effectors of the innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), play a fundamental role in tumor immune-surveillance, defense against viruses and, in general, in innate immune responses. NK cell activation is mediated by several activating receptors and co-receptors able to recognize ligands on virus-infected or tumor cells. To prevent healthy cells from auto-aggression, NK cells are provided with strong inhibitory receptors (KIRs and NKG2A) which recognize HLA class I molecules on target cells and, sensing their level of expression, allow killing of targets underexpressing HLA-class I. In vivo, NK cell-mediated anti-tumor function may be suppressed by tumor or tumor-associated cells via inhibitory soluble factors/cytokines or the engagement of the so called immune-check point molecules (e.g., PD1-PDL1). The study of these immune check-points is now offering new important opportunities for the therapy of cancer. In haemopoietic stem cell transplantation, alloreactive NK cells (i.e., those that express KIRs, which do not recognize HLA class I molecules on patient cells), derived from HSC of haploidentical donors, are able to kill leukemia blasts and patient's DC, thus preventing both tumor relapses and graft-versus-host disease. A clear correlation exists between size of the alloreactive NK cell population and clinical outcome. Thus, in view of the recent major advances in cancer therapy based on immuno-mediated mechanisms, the phenotypic analysis of cells and molecules involved in these mechanisms plays an increasingly major role. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Genny
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Zotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica-CEBR, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcenaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|U.O. Immunology IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica-CEBR, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivori
authors.affiliation: U.O. Immunology IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pende
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Della Chiesa
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.|Ospedale Sacro Cuore Negrar, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ingegnere
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|U.O. Immunology IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mingari
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.|Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica-CEBR, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010641:Phenotype; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054340:Receptors, KIR
keywords: bone marrow transplant; cancer; cell biology; flow cytometry; haploidentical stem cell transplantation; immune check-points; immune monitoring; immunophenotyping; immunotherapy; innate lymphoid cells; natural killer cells; viral infections