Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that can rapidly mount a response to their targets by employing diverse mechanisms. Due to their functional attributes, NK cells have been implicated in anti-viral and anti-tumour immune responses. Although traditionally known to mount non-specific, r...

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Main Authors: Jonida Kokiçi, Anucha Preechanukul, Helena Arellano-Ballestero, Frances Gorou, Dimitra Peppa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1746
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author Jonida Kokiçi
Anucha Preechanukul
Helena Arellano-Ballestero
Frances Gorou
Dimitra Peppa
author_facet Jonida Kokiçi
Anucha Preechanukul
Helena Arellano-Ballestero
Frances Gorou
Dimitra Peppa
author_sort Jonida Kokiçi
collection DOAJ
description Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that can rapidly mount a response to their targets by employing diverse mechanisms. Due to their functional attributes, NK cells have been implicated in anti-viral and anti-tumour immune responses. Although traditionally known to mount non-specific, rapid immune responses, in recent years, the notion of memory NK cells with adaptive features has gained more recognition. Memory NK cells emerge in response to different stimuli, such as viral antigens and specific cytokine combinations. They form distinct populations, accompanied by transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, resulting in unique phenotypic and functional attributes. Several clinical trials are testing the efficacy of memory NK cells due to their enhanced functionality, bioenergetic profile and persistence in vivo. The therapeutic potential of NK cells is being harnessed in viral infections, with wider applications in the cancer field. In this review, we summarise the current state of research on the generation of memory NK cells, along with their clinical applications in viral infection and cancer.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Viruses
spelling doaj-art-3c67c0214a664049b2661dcf9dae4d782024-11-26T18:25:31ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-11-011611174610.3390/v16111746Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical ApplicationsJonida Kokiçi0Anucha Preechanukul1Helena Arellano-Ballestero2Frances Gorou3Dimitra Peppa4Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London NW3 2PP, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London NW3 2PP, UKCancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London NW3 2PP, UKDivision of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London NW3 2PP, UKNatural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that can rapidly mount a response to their targets by employing diverse mechanisms. Due to their functional attributes, NK cells have been implicated in anti-viral and anti-tumour immune responses. Although traditionally known to mount non-specific, rapid immune responses, in recent years, the notion of memory NK cells with adaptive features has gained more recognition. Memory NK cells emerge in response to different stimuli, such as viral antigens and specific cytokine combinations. They form distinct populations, accompanied by transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, resulting in unique phenotypic and functional attributes. Several clinical trials are testing the efficacy of memory NK cells due to their enhanced functionality, bioenergetic profile and persistence in vivo. The therapeutic potential of NK cells is being harnessed in viral infections, with wider applications in the cancer field. In this review, we summarise the current state of research on the generation of memory NK cells, along with their clinical applications in viral infection and cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1746natural killer (NK) cellsmemoryadaptive NK cellscytokine-induced memory-like (CIML)HCMVimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Jonida Kokiçi
Anucha Preechanukul
Helena Arellano-Ballestero
Frances Gorou
Dimitra Peppa
Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
Viruses
natural killer (NK) cells
memory
adaptive NK cells
cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML)
HCMV
immunotherapy
title Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
title_full Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
title_fullStr Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
title_full_unstemmed Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
title_short Emerging Insights into Memory Natural Killer Cells and Clinical Applications
title_sort emerging insights into memory natural killer cells and clinical applications
topic natural killer (NK) cells
memory
adaptive NK cells
cytokine-induced memory-like (CIML)
HCMV
immunotherapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1746
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