Viral- and tumor-reactive natural killer cells

When we can understand what natural killer (NK) cells recognize during an encounter with an infectious pathogen or a tumor cell, and when we can understand how the NK cell responds to that encounter, we can then begin to understand the role of NK cells in human health and how to improve upon their role for the prevention and treatment of human disease. In the quest to understand how these cells function in antiviral and antitumoral immunity, there have been previously described mechanisms established for NK cells to participate in clearing viral infections and tumors, including classical NK cell antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as well as recognition and elimination of transformed malignant cells through direct ligand interactions. However, it is now clear that there are additional mechanisms by which NK cells can participate in these critical immune tasks. Here we review two recently described types of NK cell recognition and response: the first is to primary infection with herpes virus, recognized and responded to by non-specific Fc bridged cellular cytotoxicity (FcBCC), and the second describes a novel phenotypic and functional response when a subset of NK cells recognize myeloid leukemia.