Year: 2019
Type: review
Abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes capable of cytotoxicity against virally infected cells and tumor cells. The display of effector function by NK cells is the result of interactions between germline encoded activating/inhibitory NK cell receptors and their ligands (major histocompatibility complex class I, major histocompatibility complex class I-like, viral, and cellular stress-related surface molecules) expressed on target cells. Determination of NK cell number and function is a common element of the immunotoxicology assessment paradigm for the development of certain classes of pharmaceuticals across a range of modalities. This article summarizes the evidence associating NK cell dysfunction with infectious and cancer risks, reviews emerging NK cell biology, including the impact of immunogenetics on NK cell education and function, and provides perspectives about points to consider when assessing NK cell function in different species in the context of safety assessment.
Source: Toxicological Sciences
Authors: Ana Goyos, Madeline Fort, Amy Sharma, Herve Lebrec
Institutions: Amgen (United States), Genentech
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2941637796