Natural Killer cells at the frontline in the fight against cancer

• Published in: Cell death & disease 2024-08, Vol.15 (8), p.614-14
• Main Authors: Coënon, Loïs, Geindreau, Mannon, Ghiringhelli, François, Villalba, Martin, Bruchard, Mélanie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/250/1933; 631/250/2504/2506; 631/67/580/1884; Animals; Antibodies; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bone marrow; Cancer; Cell activation; Cell Biology; Cell Culture; Cell death; Cells; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Death receptors; Granule cells; Humans; Immunology; Immunosurveillance; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Life Sciences; Ligands; Lungs; Lymphatic system; Lymphocytes; Metastasis; Natural killer cells; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - pathology; Receptor mechanisms; Review Article; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor Microenvironment - immunology; Tumors; Uterus
• ISSN: 2041-4889; 2041-4889
• DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06976-0

Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that play a pivotal role as first line defenders in the anti-tumor response. To prevent tumor development, NK cells are searching for abnormal cells within the body and appear to be key players in immunosurveillance. Upon recognition of abnormal cells, NK cells will become activated to destroy them. In order to fulfill their anti-tumoral function, they rely on the secretion of lytic granules, expression of death receptors and production of cytokines. Additionally, NK cells interact with other cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we will first focus on NK cells’ activation and cytotoxicity mechanisms as well as NK cells behavior during serial killing. Lastly, we will review NK cells’ crosstalk with the other immune cells present in the tumor microenvironment.