Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro
Published on: January 9, 2018
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Resist Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Killing Through Interleukin-11
Hongmei Yang1, Hao Jia1, Renfei Wu1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells resist natural killer (NK) cell attacks by secreting interleukin-11 (IL-11). This IL-11 pathway inhibits NK cell function, promoting immune evasion. Targeting IL-11 may improve NK cell therapies for TNBC.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapies offer promise for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
- Tumor microenvironments can induce resistance and exhaustion in NK cells, hindering treatment efficacy.
- Understanding TNBC immune evasion mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify mechanisms by which TNBC cells resist NK cell-mediated killing.
- To investigate the role of interleukin-11 (IL-11) in TNBC immune evasion.
- To explore the potential of targeting the IL-11 pathway to enhance NK cell therapy for TNBC.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of NK-resistant TNBC cell populations.
- Analysis of cytokine secretion, including IL-11, by resistant TNBC cells.
- Investigation of IL-11 trans-signaling pathway activation (sIL-11R/gp130/JAK1/STAT1/3) in NK cells.
- Assessment of NK cell proliferation, IFNγ production, and cell cycle status.
- Evaluation of IL-11 and sIL-11R blockade effects on NK cell activity.
- Correlation analysis of IL-11 expression with NK cell infiltration in human TNBC tissues.
Main Results:
- Resistant TNBC cells secrete high levels of IL-11.
- IL-11, via trans-signaling with sIL-11R, activates gp130 on NK cells, inducing JAK1/STAT1/3 signaling.
- This pathway leads to p21 upregulation, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of NK cell proliferation and IFNγ production.
- Blocking IL-11 or sIL-11R restores NK cell activity against TNBC.
- Elevated IL-11 expression in human TNBC tissues correlates negatively with NK cell infiltration.
Conclusions:
- IL-11 trans-signaling is a novel mechanism of immune evasion employed by TNBC cells.
- This pathway suppresses NK cell function within the tumor microenvironment.
- Targeting the IL-11 pathway presents a promising strategy to overcome NK cell resistance and enhance TNBC immunotherapy.
More Related Videos
08:19Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo
Published on: July 20, 2019
06:55Measurement of Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity and Migration in the Context of Hepatic Tumor Cells
Published on: February 22, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
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...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
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...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway