Natural killer cells in the lung: potential role in asthma and virus-induced exacerbation?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disorder whose pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms are not completely understood. Asthma exacerbations are mostly driven by respiratory viral infections and characterised by worsening of symptoms. Despite current therapies, asthma exacerbations can...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European respiratory review 2023-09, Vol.32 (169), p.230036
Main Authors: Lepretre, Florian, Gras, Delphine, Chanez, Pascal, Duez, Catherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asthma - diagnosis
Asthma - therapy
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Killer Cells, Natural
Life Sciences
Lung
Reviews
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Summary:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disorder whose pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms are not completely understood. Asthma exacerbations are mostly driven by respiratory viral infections and characterised by worsening of symptoms. Despite current therapies, asthma exacerbations can still be life-threatening. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells well known for their antiviral activity and are present in the lung as circulating and resident cells. However, their functions in asthma and its exacerbations are still unclear. In this review, we will address NK cell activation and functions, which are particularly relevant for asthma and virus-induced asthma exacerbations. Then, the role of NK cells in the lungs at homeostasis in healthy individuals will be described, as well as their functions during pulmonary viral infections, with an emphasis on those associated with asthma exacerbations. Finally, we will discuss the involvement of NK cells in asthma and virus-induced exacerbations and examine the effect of asthma treatments on NK cells.
ISSN:0905-9180
1600-0617
DOI:10.1183/16000617.0036-2023