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Review
. 2023 May 18:14:1172437.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1172437. eCollection 2023.

Natural killer cells- from innate cells to the discovery of adaptability

Débora Basílio-Queirós  1 , Eva Mischak-Weissinger  1
Affiliations
Review

Natural killer cells- from innate cells to the discovery of adaptability

Débora Basílio-Queirós et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Natural Killer (NK) cells have come a long way since their first description in the 1970's. The most recent reports of their adaptive-like behavior changed the way the immune system dichotomy is described. Adaptive NK cells present characteristics of both the innate and adaptive immune system. This NK cell subpopulation undergoes a clonal-like expansion in response to an antigen and secondary encounters with the same antigen result in an increased cytotoxic response. These characteristics can be of extreme importance in the clinical setting, especially as adoptive immunotherapies, since NK cells present several advantages compared other cell types. This review will focus on the discovery and the path to the current knowledge of the adaptive NK cell population.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; adaptive natural killer cells; cytotoxic lymphocytes; immune; natural killer cells; viral infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of a linear model of NK cell development. In this model it is theorized that, common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) cells commit into NK cell precursors and mature into CD56bright NK cells. CD56bright NK cells are less differentiated and express high levels of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs). These cells will give rise to mature CD56dim NK cells which have enhanced cytotoxic capabilities as seen, for instance, by increased production of cytotoxic granules and CD16 expression. These can subsequently further differentiate into self-renewing adaptive NK cells expressing high levels of NKG2C and Killer Immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) as the result of specific stimuli, which may include a combination of cytokines or CMV infection.
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