Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Advances in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Expressing Natural Killer Cells
11:08

Advances in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Expressing Natural Killer Cells

Published on: February 14, 2025

1.9K

Alterations of oncogenes expression in NK cells in patients with cancer

Gulnur K Zakiryanova1, Elena Kustova2, Nataliya T Urazalieva2

  • 1Scientific and Technological Park Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
|July 12, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Natural killer (NK) cell c-kit/Stem cell factor (SCF) signaling is crucial for their function. Cancer patients exhibit reduced c-kit and c-myc expression in NK cells, potentially impairing anti-tumor activity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • C-kit/Stem cell factor (SCF) signaling is vital for natural killer (NK) cell homeostasis, maturation, proliferation, and cytotoxicity.
  • NK cell-specific c-kit deficiency significantly reduces NK cell numbers, highlighting the critical role of this pathway.
  • Human NK cells express both the c-kit receptor and its ligand, SCF (both membrane-bound and soluble forms).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the c-kit/SCF autocrine loop in peripheral blood NK cells from cancer patients.
  • To characterize the expression of c-kit, SCF, c-myc, and STAT3 in NK cells of cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Smart Flare and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) techniques.
  • Analyzed the expression of c-kit and both membrane-bound and soluble SCF forms in NK cells.
  • Correlated the expression of c-kit and SCF with c-myc and STAT3 expression.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significantly decreased expression of proto-oncogenes c-myc and c-kit in NK cells from all cancer patients studied.
  • Observed a correlation between the expression of membrane-bound SCF in NK cells and the presence of remote metastases.
  • Indicated potential dysregulation of STAT3 expression in conjunction with c-kit/SCF and c-myc.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal c-kit/SCF, c-myc, and STAT3 signaling and expression in NK cells are implicated in defective cytotoxic activity in cancer.
  • These gene expression defects may represent a cause, rather than a consequence, of tumor progression.
  • Suggests a potential mechanism by which cancer compromises NK cell anti-tumor immunity at the molecular level.
Keywords:
STAT3c-Kitc-MycmbSCFsSCF

More Related Videos

Flow Cytometry-based Assay for the Monitoring of NK Cell Functions08:17

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

Published on: October 30, 2016

22.1K
Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells08:42

Dextran Enhances the Lentiviral Transduction Efficiency of Murine and Human Primary NK Cells

Published on: January 15, 2018

11.7K

Related Concept Videos

Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

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...
9.8K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

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...
7.7K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
11.6K
Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions01:12

Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
6.2K
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune 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...
9.0K
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
15.1K