Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the innate immune system and are responsible for the first line of defense against pathogens during the initial immune challenge befor...

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Main Authors: Hamid Shegarfi, Fatemeh Naddafi, Abbas Mirshafiey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/491974
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author Hamid Shegarfi
Fatemeh Naddafi
Abbas Mirshafiey
author_facet Hamid Shegarfi
Fatemeh Naddafi
Abbas Mirshafiey
author_sort Hamid Shegarfi
collection DOAJ
description Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the innate immune system and are responsible for the first line of defense against pathogens during the initial immune challenge before the adaptive immune system eventually eliminates the infectious burden. NK cells have the capacity to damage normal cells or through interaction with other cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and T cells cause autoimmune diseases, such as RA. NK cells isolated from the joints of patients with RA suggest that they may play a role in this disease. However, the involvement of NK cells in RA pathology is not fully elucidated. Both protective and detrimental roles of NK cells in RA have recently been reported. A better understanding of NK cells' role in RA might help to develop new therapeutic strategies for treatment of the RA or other autoimmune diseases. We have decided in this paper to focus on the NK cell biology, and attempt to bring the interested readership of this Journal up to date on the NK cell, specifically its possible relation to RA.
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spelling doaj-art-d371cd171e0246e4bfb0930cf7c13e1e2025-08-20T02:19:50ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/491974491974Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?Hamid Shegarfi0Fatemeh Naddafi1Abbas Mirshafiey2Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 6446 Tehran 14155, IranDepartment of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 6446 Tehran 14155, IranRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the innate immune system and are responsible for the first line of defense against pathogens during the initial immune challenge before the adaptive immune system eventually eliminates the infectious burden. NK cells have the capacity to damage normal cells or through interaction with other cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and T cells cause autoimmune diseases, such as RA. NK cells isolated from the joints of patients with RA suggest that they may play a role in this disease. However, the involvement of NK cells in RA pathology is not fully elucidated. Both protective and detrimental roles of NK cells in RA have recently been reported. A better understanding of NK cells' role in RA might help to develop new therapeutic strategies for treatment of the RA or other autoimmune diseases. We have decided in this paper to focus on the NK cell biology, and attempt to bring the interested readership of this Journal up to date on the NK cell, specifically its possible relation to RA.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/491974
spellingShingle Hamid Shegarfi
Fatemeh Naddafi
Abbas Mirshafiey
Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
The Scientific World Journal
title Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
title_full Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
title_fullStr Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
title_full_unstemmed Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
title_short Natural Killer Cells and Their Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Friend or Foe?
title_sort natural killer cells and their role in rheumatoid arthritis friend or foe
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/491974
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