Cancer is a condition that has been with us for centuries; however, the therapies that have been developed are often associated with significant toxicity and various side effects. Recent advances in immunology have revealed the potential of the immune system to fight cancer, leading to the emergence of immunotherapy. This review focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cells, innate immune effectors with a remarkable ability to directly kill cancer cells. We will explore the historical context of cancer treatment, the nature of NK cells, and the ways they have been developed to enhance their anti-tumor function, highlighting the limitations of conventional therapies. The therapeutic potential of NK cell-based immunotherapies will also be discussed, emphasizing their unique advantages over other immune cell-based approaches. This review highlights the promising future of NK cell therapies in the fight against cancer and their possible application to assist and improve conventional therapies developed so far.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1482807 | DOI Listing |
Vaccines (Basel)
November 2024
Department of Biological Sciences, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA.
Immunosenescence, a systematic reduction in the immune system connected with age, profoundly affects the health and well-being of elderly individuals. This review outlines the hallmark features of immunosenescence, including thymic involution, inflammaging, cellular metabolic adaptations, and hematopoietic changes, and their impact on immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, dendritic cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Thymic involution impairs the immune system's capacity to react to novel antigens by reducing thymopoiesis and shifting toward memory T cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
Membrane Biophysics and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Natural Sciences Faculty, Autonomous University of Quéretaro, Av. De las Ciencias S/N, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76220, Mexico.
The systems of are defined by the co-infection of two viral agents, an M virus and a helper virus. Each toxin is determined by the type of M virus (ScV-M1, ScV-M2, ScV-M28, and ScV-Mlus), which encodes a specific toxin (K1, K2, K28, and Klus). Since their discovery, interest in their potential use as antimicrobial agents has driven research into the mechanisms of action of these toxins on susceptible cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
December 2024
Immunology and Infectious Diseases Program, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3V6, Canada.
Natural killer (NK) and CD8 T cell function is compromised in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by increased expression of inhibitory receptors such as TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains). Blocking inhibitory receptors or their ligands with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) has potential to improve antiviral immunity in general and facilitate HIV eradication strategies. We assessed the impact of TIGIT engagement and blockade on cytotoxicity, degranulation, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production by CD8 T cells from persons living with HIV (PLWH).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, São Francisco University, Av. São Francisco de Assis, 218, Bragança Paulista, Sao Paulo 12916-900, Brazil.
The global increase in cancer cases and mortality has been associated with inflammatory processes, in which chemokines play crucial roles. These molecules, a subfamily of cytokines, are essential for the migration, adhesion, interaction, and positioning of immune cells throughout the body. Chemokines primarily originate in response to pathogenic stimuli and inflammatory cytokines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
As the primary glial cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), Schwann cells (SCs) have been proven to influence the behavior of cancer cells profoundly and are involved in cancer progression through extensive interactions with cancer cells and other stromal cells. Indeed, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical factor that can significantly limit the efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches. The TME promotes tumor progression in part by reshaping an immunosuppressive state.
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