Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026
10:36
A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro
Published on: January 9, 2018
7.6K
Natural killers shed attachments to kill again
James H Felce1, Michael L Dustin2
1Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
The Journal of Cell Biology
|August 16, 2018
Abstract:
Natural killer cells target antibody-bound cells following engagement of the Fc receptor CD16. Srpan et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201712085) reveal that activation-induced shedding of CD16 leads to more motile behavior, allowing more targets to be engaged and killed in a given time.
Insights
Natural killer cells use CD16 to bind antibody-coated cells. Shedding CD16 after activation increases cell motility, enabling more efficient target engagement and killing.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial immune cells that eliminate antibody-bound target cells.
- This process is mediated by the engagement of the low-affinity Fc receptor, CD16, on the NK cell surface.
- Understanding the regulation of NK cell activity and target cell engagement is vital for immunotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional consequences of CD16 shedding in natural killer cells.
- To determine how CD16 shedding impacts NK cell motility and target cell engagement efficiency.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized advanced microscopy techniques to observe NK cell behavior.
- Activation-induced shedding of CD16 was induced and monitored in real-time.
- Cell motility and target cell engagement dynamics were quantified.
Main Results:
- Activation of natural killer cells triggers the shedding of the CD16 receptor.
- This shedding event significantly enhances NK cell motility.
- Increased motility allows for a greater number of target cells to be engaged and killed within a specific timeframe.
Conclusions:
- CD16 shedding is a regulatory mechanism that optimizes natural killer cell cytotoxic function.
- Enhanced NK cell motility following CD16 shedding improves the efficiency of eliminating antibody-opsonized targets.
- This finding has implications for developing strategies to augment NK cell-based immunotherapies.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Attachment
533
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
533
01:32What is Natural Selection?
129.6K
Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.
129.6K
01:24Attachment Styles
452
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
452
01:10Nature and Nurture
22.4K
Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.4K
02:57Attachment of Sister Chromatids
4.1K
As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall...
4.1K
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
50.0K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
50.0K