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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro
Published on: January 9, 2018
Mast Cells and Natural Killer Cells-A Potentially Critical Interaction
Liliana Portales-Cervantes1,2, Bassel Dawod3, Jean S Marshall4,5,6
1Dalhousie Human Immunology and Inflammation Group, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada. lportales@dal.ca.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells play critical roles in host defense against infectious agents or neoplastic cells. NK cells provide a rapid innate immune response including the killing of target cells without the need for priming. However, activated NK cells can show improved effector functions. Mast cells are also critical for early host defense against a variety of pathogens and are predominately located at mucosal surfaces and close to blood vessels. Our group has recently shown that virus-infected mast cells selectively recruit NK cells and positively modulate their functions through mechanisms dependent on soluble mediators, such as interferons. Here, we review the possible consequences of this interaction in both host defense and pathologies involving NK cell and mast cell activation.
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