Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
06:55
Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells
Published on: February 22, 2020
Signal transduction during natural killer cell activation
1Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Current Protocols in Immunology
|April 25, 2008
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes that kill target cells and secrete cytokines. Their functions are controlled by signals from various NK cell surface receptors, including triggering and inhibitory types.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes with cytotoxic capabilities against tumor and virus-infected cells.
- NK cells also secrete cytokines and chemokines, influencing immune cell function, growth, and differentiation.
- NK cell responses are triggered by interactions between surface receptors and specific ligands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of receptor-initiated signaling pathways that regulate NK cell functions.
- To highlight the diverse roles of NK surface receptors in modulating immune responses.
Main Methods:
- This is an overview, focusing on the integration of signals from various NK cell surface receptors.
- Discussion includes triggering receptors, adhesion molecules, cytokine receptors, and MHC-recognizing killer-cell inhibitory receptors.
Main Results:
- NK cell functional responses result from integrated signals transduced by multiple receptor types.
- Signaling pathways in NK cells share similarities with other lymphoid cells but also possess unique features.
Conclusions:
- Receptor-ligand interactions are central to initiating NK cell cytotoxic and secretory functions.
- Understanding these signaling pathways is crucial for modulating NK cell activity in immune responses.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
01:22Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
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...
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...