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Related Concept Videos

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
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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.
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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
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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.
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Immunological memory, a pivotal pillar of the adaptive immune system, is responsible for the body's ability to remember and respond more swiftly and effectively to previously encountered pathogens. This remarkable feature is what makes vaccines so effective in preventing diseases.
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Purification and Expansion of Mouse Invariant Natural Killer T Cells for in vitro and in vivo Studies
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Purification and Expansion of Mouse Invariant Natural Killer T Cells for in vitro and in vivo Studies

Published on: February 15, 2021

NK cells and immune "memory".

Joseph C Sun1, Sandra Lopez-Verges, Charles C Kim

  • 1Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. sunj@mskcc.org

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|February 4, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Natural killer (NK) cells exhibit immunological memory, mounting enhanced responses upon re-exposure to pathogens. This NK cell memory mirrors adaptive immune system characteristics, challenging previous understandings of immune recall.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Immunological memory, typically associated with T and B cells, enables robust responses to secondary pathogen encounters.
  • Recent studies reveal that Natural Killer (NK) cells, previously not considered memory cells, can mediate antigen-specific recall responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the emerging evidence for NK cell memory.
  • To summarize the characteristics of NK cell memory.
  • To discuss challenges in identifying human memory NK cell populations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on NK cell function and immunological memory.
  • Analysis of studies demonstrating NK cell expansion and specific recall responses in various model systems.
  • Comparative analysis of NK cell development and function with T and B cells.

Main Results:

  • NK cells undergo selective education and clonal-like expansion during viral infections.
  • NK cells generate long-lived progeny with enhanced efficacy upon secondary encounters with pathogens.
  • These findings suggest NK cells possess characteristics of immunological memory.

Conclusions:

  • NK cells demonstrate key features of immunological memory, including antigen-specific recall responses.
  • The discovery of NK cell memory expands our understanding of adaptive immunity.
  • Further research is needed to identify and characterize long-lived memory NK cell populations in humans.