Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Natural killer lymphocytes: biology, development, and function.

Michael Papamichail1, Sonia A Perez, Angelos D Gritzapis

  • 1Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Center, Saint Savas Cancer Hospital, 171 Alexandras Avenue, 115 22, Athens, Greece. papmail@hellasnet.gr

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy : CII
|December 20, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells are crucial immune defenders against viruses and tumors. Advances in understanding these cells pave the way for new cancer immunotherapies.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Intratumor Heterogeneity: A Central Challenge in Modern Oncology.

Cancers·2026
Same author

Ole-4, a novel synthetic derivative of Oleuropein, enhances antitumor immunity and modulates kinase activity-dependent signaling.

Journal of translational medicine·2026
Same author

Exploring the Pivotal Functions of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in Cancer Prognosis and Immunotherapy Outcomes.

Cancers·2025
Same author

Prognostic Significance of Endocrine-Related Adverse Events in Patients with Melanoma, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Urothelial Cancer After Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cancers·2025
Same author

Novel biomarkers for prognosis in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Oncology letters·2025
Same author

Single-Cell mRNA Analysis for the Identification of Molecular Pathways of IRF1 in HER2+ Breast Cancer.

Cells·2025

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes are key in early defense against viral and tumor cells.
  • NK cell research has advanced through receptor/ligand identification and cytokine effect analysis.
  • Natural killer T (NKT) cells share functions and receptors with NK cells, regulating immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biology, development, and function of NK and NKT cells.
  • To highlight the potential of NK/NKT cells in cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Exploration of NK cell receptors and ligands.
  • Analysis of cytokine effects on NK cell development and function.
  • Characterization of NKT cell functions in immune regulation and antitumor activity.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • NK cells provide first-line defense against infected and malignant cells.
  • NKT cells modulate both innate and adaptive immunity and exhibit antitumor properties.
  • Significant progress in understanding NK/NKT cell biology supports their therapeutic potential.

Conclusions:

  • NK and NKT cells are vital components of the immune system with significant antitumor capabilities.
  • Further research into NK/NKT cell mechanisms can lead to novel cancer treatment strategies.