Abstract / Description of output
Natural killer (NK) cells have a crucial role in combating infections and cancers and their surface receptors can directly recognize and respond to damaged, transformed or non-self cells. Whereas some virus-infected cells are recognized by this same route, NK-cell responses to many pathogens are triggered by a different mechanism. Activation of NK cells by these pathogens requires the presence of accessory cells such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Recent studies have identified numerous pathogen-recognition receptors that enable accessory cells to recognize different pathogens and subsequently transmit signals--both soluble and contact-dependent--to NK cells, which respond by upregulating their cytotoxic potential and the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 279-91 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Nature Reviews Immunology |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2007 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Animals
- Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology
- Bacterial Infections/immunology
- Cell Communication/immunology
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Lymphocyte Activation/immunology
- Receptor Cross-Talk/immunology
- Signal Transduction/immunology
- Virus Diseases/immunology