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Natural Killer Cell Immunomodulation: Targeting Activating, Inhibitory, and Co-stimulatory Receptor Signaling for

Cariad Chester1, Katherine Fritsch2, Holbrook E Kohrt2

  • 1Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University , Stanford, CA , USA ; Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford, CA , USA.

Frontiers in Immunology
|December 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for fighting cancer by identifying and destroying tumor cells. Therapies are being developed to overcome tumor defenses and enhance NK cell antitumor activity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are vital for tumor recognition and eradication.
  • Advances in NK cell biology are driving the development of NK cell-targeting therapeutics.
  • NK cell activity is regulated by a complex interplay of activating and inhibitory receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review tumor-NK cell interactions and NK cell-mediated antitumor immune responses.
  • To discuss current and emerging NK cell-based therapeutic strategies.
  • To explore targeting of activating, inhibitory, and co-stimulatory receptors for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical and experimental evidence on NK cell function in cancer.
  • Analysis of mechanisms underlying NK cell activation, suppression, and effector functions.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies modulating NK cell receptor interactions.

Main Results:

  • NK cells directly eliminate nascent cancer cells during immune surveillance.
  • Tumors develop immunosuppressive mechanisms to evade NK cell-mediated killing.
  • Therapeutic interventions aim to restore NK cell antitumor capacity by reversing suppression.

Conclusions:

  • NK cells are potent effectors against cancer, but tumors can evade their activity.
  • Modulating NK cell receptors offers promising therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into NK cell biology will accelerate the development of effective immunotherapies.
Keywords:
adoptive cell therapycancer vaccinescheckpoint blockadeimmunotherapymonoclonal antibodynatural killer cells

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