Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Through Natural Killer (NK) Cells: Unlocking NK Cells for Future Immunotherapy.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells have potent effector functions that can be further improved for therapeutic purposes through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Specific killing of virus-infected cells and cancer cells is modulated through target specific antibodies that subsequently recruit NK cells for ADCC. NK cells produce cytokines similar to activated T cells, but is less persistent as NK cells have short-lived responses.