Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic 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...

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

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...

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

Cells 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...

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Physical Activity as a Tool for Social Inclusion in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review of Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Methods Evidence.

Sports (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Auditory-conceptual associations in Peter and the Wolf and Carnival of the Animals: Evidence from 6- to 9-year-old children.

Psychonomic bulletin & review·2026

Same author

Role of donor regulatory T-cell adoptive immunotherapy in B-cell immunity after hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Haematologica·2025

Same author

Cognitive Training Combined with Multifocal tDCS over the Reading Network Improves Reading Performance: A Case of Severe Dyslexia.

Journal of clinical medicine·2025

Same author

Narrative coherence in neural language models.

Frontiers in psychology·2025

Same author

Educational Intervention on Awareness of Health-Damaging Behaviors in Educators.

Sports (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

Published on: October 30, 2016

Natural killer cell alloreactivity 10 years later.

Andrea Velardi¹

¹Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. velardi@unipg.it

Current Opinion in Hematology

|September 8, 2012

Summary

Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity enhances graft-versus-leukemia effects in haploidentical stem cell transplants. Donor-recipient HLA mismatches and specific NK cell receptors are key for successful outcomes in leukemia treatment.

More Related Videos

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Published on: February 22, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions

Published on: October 30, 2016

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells

Published on: February 22, 2020

Area of Science:

Immunology
Hematology
Transplantation

Background:

Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity's impact on hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was first observed in haploidentical transplant recipients a decade ago.
Research has elucidated the 'missing self-recognition' mechanism behind NK cell-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effects in T-cell-depleted haploidentical HCT.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the impact of NK cell alloreactivity on HCT.
To clarify optimal transplantation protocols for harnessing NK cell alloreactivity.

Main Methods:

Review of clinical studies and research findings on NK cell alloreactivity in HCT.
Analysis of mechanisms involving human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I mismatches and NK cell education.
Examination of transplantation protocols, including T-cell depletion and immune suppression.

Main Results:

Donor-versus-recipient NK cell alloreactivity benefits are triggered by specific HLA class I mismatches.
Optimal protocols involve large doses of T-cell-depleted grafts without posttransplant immune suppression.
NK cell alloreactivity is crucial in haploidentical transplants for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
NK cell therapy shows promise for leukemia remission consolidation.
Activating NK receptors in matched transplants may reduce relapse and improve survival.

Conclusions:

Donor HLA is critical for NK cell education, promoting donor tolerance and recipient reactivity.
NK cell alloreactivity is a key therapeutic element in haploidentical HCT for specific leukemias.
NK cell therapy is a potential strategy for leukemia remission consolidation.
Activating NK receptors in matched transplants correlate with better outcomes.