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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Natural Killer (NK) and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line
Published on: February 8, 2022
Bovine natural killer cell subsets can be defined by differential expression of CD161 (KLRB1)
Inga Dry1, Marta Kalandadze1, Zhiguang Wu1
1The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in the immune response to infection, disease, and vaccination. Bovine NK cell subsets have been described; however, a more in-depth characterization is currently hindered by the lack of species-specific reagents in comparison to humans and mice. CD161, encoded by the KLRB1 gene, is a C-type lectin-like receptor known to be highly expressed in human NK cells. CD161 has been described in human immunity as defining a pro-inflammatory subset of NK cells that are capable of responding to cytokines. The specific function and importance of bovine CD161+ cells have yet to be defined. This study developed and characterized a novel mouse anti-bovine CD161 monoclonal antibody and determined the expression of CD161 on NK cells, CD8 T cells, and gamma delta T (γδT) cells in peripheral blood from calves. Future research will investigate the specific function and targeting of the described CD161+ subsets in baseline immune response, infection, and response to vaccination.
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