| Popis: |
Natural killer cells (NK cells) are a family of lymphocytes with a natural ability to kill infected, harmed, or malignantly transformed cells. As these cells are part of the innate immunity, the cytotoxic mechanisms are activated upon recognizing specific patterns without prior antigen sensitization. This recognition is crucial for NK cell function in the maintenance of homeostasis and immunosurveillance. NK cells not only act directly towards malignant cells but also participate in the complex immune response by producing cytokines or crosstalk with other immune cells. Cancer may be seen as a break of all immune defenses when malignant cells escape the immunity and invade surrounding tissues creating a microenvironment supporting tumor progression. This process may be reverted by interventions into immune response shaping with immunotherapy, which may lead to restoration of immune recognition. NK cells are also effector cells important for immunotherapy, may be used for adoptive transfer, genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors, or triggered with appropriate antibodies. NK cell receptors, responsible for target recognition and activation of cytotoxic machinery, may also be targeted in immunotherapy. However, this kind of immunoactive therapeutics may be designed only with the deep... |
