Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 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
19.6K
Disarming the Killers: Brain Strikes on NK Cells.
Linda Quatrini1, Sophie Ugolini1
1Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, 13288 Marseille, France.
Immunity
|March 23, 2017
Summary
Brain ischemia causes immunosuppression and infections. New research shows distinct neuroendocrine pathways suppress natural killer (NK) cell responses in the brain and body after stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Background:
- Brain ischemia, such as stroke, triggers significant systemic immunosuppression.
- This immunosuppression increases the risk of secondary infectious complications following ischemic events.
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial immune cells whose function can be impaired after brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying immunosuppression after brain ischemia.
- To determine how these mechanisms differentially affect NK cell activity in the central nervous system (CNS) versus the periphery.
- To elucidate the role of specific pathways in modulating immune responses post-cerebral infarction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model of cerebral infarction.
- Analyzed immune cell populations and function in both the CNS and peripheral tissues.
- Investigated the involvement of specific neuroendocrine signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that distinct neuroendocrine pathways are activated following brain ischemia.
- Showed differential inhibition of natural killer (NK) cell responses in the CNS compared to the periphery.
- Identified specific molecular mediators responsible for suppressing NK cell activity.
Conclusions:
- Neuroendocrine pathways play a critical role in regulating immune responses after brain ischemia.
- Targeting these distinct pathways may offer therapeutic strategies to mitigate immunosuppression and reduce infection risk.
- Understanding these differential effects is key to developing localized or systemic immunomodulatory treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
7.7K
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...
7.7K
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
9.9K
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...
9.9K
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
9.1K
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...
9.1K
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
2.3K
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...
2.3K