Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:17
Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions
Published on: October 30, 2016
Antitumor activity of NK cells
Q Yang1, S R Goding, M E Hokland
1Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA 15213, USA.
Immunologic Research
|March 6, 2007
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells show organ-specific anti-tumor activity. While NK cell activity correlates with metastasis resistance, tumor clearance is lung-specific, but activated NK cells effectively reduce lung tumors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
- Cellular Immunology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for lung tumor cell clearance and metastasis resistance.
- The role of NK cells in other organs regarding tumor resistance and clearance is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of NK cells in organs beyond the lungs concerning tumor metastasis and clearance.
- To explore the impact of NK cell activation on organ-specific anti-metastatic resistance.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ex vivo-activated NK cells in established lung tumors.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of NK cell activity and organ resistance to metastasis across different organs.
- Treatment with Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) ligand poly I:C to assess its effect on NK cell populations.
- Adoptive transfer of interleukin-2 (IL-2) activated NK cells into mouse models with lung tumors.
Main Results:
- Organ resistance to metastasis correlates with host NK cell activity, but tumor cell clearance is primarily observed in the lungs.
- Poly I:C treatment significantly increases the number of organ-associated NK cells, potentially enhancing metastasis resistance.
- Adoptively transferred IL-2-activated NK cells successfully infiltrate lung tumors and reduce tumor burden.
Conclusions:
- NK cells exhibit distinct roles in anti-tumor immunity depending on the organ environment.
- NK cell activation, particularly with poly I:C, can bolster systemic resistance to metastasis.
- Adoptive immunotherapy with activated NK cells holds promise for treating established solid tumors, including lung metastases.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy. SP binds and activates these...
01:25Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...