Human NK cells and cancer
The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a “universal anti-tumor i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | OncoImmunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2162402X.2024.2378520 |
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| author | Claudia Cantoni Michela Falco Massimo Vitale Gabriella Pietra Enrico Munari Daniela Pende Maria Cristina Mingari Simona Sivori Lorenzo Moretta |
| author_facet | Claudia Cantoni Michela Falco Massimo Vitale Gabriella Pietra Enrico Munari Daniela Pende Maria Cristina Mingari Simona Sivori Lorenzo Moretta |
| author_sort | Claudia Cantoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a “universal anti-tumor immune tool”. In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd0d6b7413d1468ca95bb84de00f4265 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2162-402X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | OncoImmunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd0d6b7413d1468ca95bb84de00f42652024-12-03T13:49:34ZengTaylor & Francis GroupOncoImmunology2162-402X2024-12-0113110.1080/2162402X.2024.2378520Human NK cells and cancerClaudia Cantoni0Michela Falco1Massimo Vitale2Gabriella Pietra3Enrico Munari4Daniela Pende5Maria Cristina Mingari6Simona Sivori7Lorenzo Moretta8Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, ItalyUO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyPathology Unit, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, ItalyUO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyDepartment of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyTumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, ItalyThe long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a “universal anti-tumor immune tool”. In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2162402X.2024.2378520Human natural killer cellsNK cell receptorsNK cell-based immunotherapyreceptor–ligand interactionstumor escapetumor microenvironment |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Cantoni Michela Falco Massimo Vitale Gabriella Pietra Enrico Munari Daniela Pende Maria Cristina Mingari Simona Sivori Lorenzo Moretta Human NK cells and cancer OncoImmunology Human natural killer cells NK cell receptors NK cell-based immunotherapy receptor–ligand interactions tumor escape tumor microenvironment |
| title | Human NK cells and cancer |
| title_full | Human NK cells and cancer |
| title_fullStr | Human NK cells and cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human NK cells and cancer |
| title_short | Human NK cells and cancer |
| title_sort | human nk cells and cancer |
| topic | Human natural killer cells NK cell receptors NK cell-based immunotherapy receptor–ligand interactions tumor escape tumor microenvironment |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2162402X.2024.2378520 |
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