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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
09:03
Analysis of Human Natural Killer Cell Metabolism
Published on: June 22, 2020
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Natural killer cells in lung transplantation
Daniel R Calabrese1, Lewis L Lanier2,3, John R Greenland1,4
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Thorax
|November 2, 2018
Summary
Natural killer (NK) cells play dual roles in lung transplants, promoting tolerance or rejection. Understanding NK cell mechanisms may improve diagnosis and treatment of lung allograft dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation immunology
- Innate immunity
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are key innate lymphoid cells involved in immune defense and recognizing 'self' versus 'non-self' tissues.
- NK cells possess diverse receptors that mediate effector functions crucial for responding to infections, malignancies, and allogeneic tissues.
- Their role in lung allograft tolerance and immune defense is increasingly recognized, with complex mechanisms influencing transplant outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diverse receptors and mechanisms of NK cells in lung transplantation.
- To explore how NK cells influence lung allograft tolerance and rejection.
- To discuss the potential of NK cells as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in lung transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on NK cell biology and function in the context of lung transplantation.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms by which NK cells mediate allograft tolerance and rejection.
- Examination of NK cell involvement in infections (e.g., cytomegalovirus) and antibody-mediated rejection.
Main Results:
- NK cells can promote lung allograft tolerance by depleting donor antigen-presenting cells.
- NK cells can drive rejection via cytotoxic effects on allografts through KIR or NKG2D receptor ligation.
- NK cells contribute to complement-independent antibody-mediated rejection and cytomegalovirus infection control.
Conclusions:
- NK cells exhibit complex, sometimes conflicting, roles in lung allograft function.
- Enumeration of NK cells may aid in diagnosing allograft dysfunction.
- Further research into NK cell biology could identify them as biomarkers for graft injury and therapeutic targets.
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