Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
18:08
Interview: Glycolipid Antigen Presentation by CD1d and the Therapeutic Potential of NKT cell Activation
Published on: December 31, 2007
Formation and function of the lytic NK-cell immunological synapse
1University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Joseph Stokes Jr Research Institute of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, ARC 1016H, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. Orange@mail.med.upenn.edu
Nature Reviews. Immunology
|January 28, 2009
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells form a dynamic immunological synapse with target cells. This precisely regulated interface ensures NK cells effectively eliminate virally infected and cancerous cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The natural killer (NK)-cell immunological synapse is a critical interface between NK cells and target cells.
- This dynamic structure mediates the recognition and elimination of aberrant cells, including those infected by viruses or undergoing malignant transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the stages and regulatory mechanisms governing NK-cell immunological synapse formation.
- To understand how precise regulation of this interface contributes to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on the sequential events in NK-cell immunological synapse formation.
- Analysis of the regulatory processes controlling progression through these stages.
Main Results:
- NK-cell synapse formation involves distinct, regulated stages from initial contact to cytotoxic payload delivery.
- Tight regulation ensures accurate selection and lysis of susceptible target cells.
Conclusions:
- The NK-cell immunological synapse is a highly regulated, multi-stage process essential for immune surveillance.
- This precise regulation is key to the ability of NK cells to identify and destroy harmful cells, such as virally infected and cancerous cells.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:27Cytotoxic 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...
01:25Immune 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...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
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...
02:47The Synapse
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.