Natural killer cells in rejection and tolerance of solid organ allografts

G Benichou, Y Yamada, A Aoyama… - Current opinion in …, 2011 - journals.lww.com
G Benichou, Y Yamada, A Aoyama, JC Madsen
Current opinion in organ transplantation, 2011journals.lww.com
Solid organ transplantation is associated with the early activation of NK cells, which are then
licensed to kill allogeneic target cells directly or via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
and release various chemokines and immunomodulatory cytokines. Depending upon the
nature of NK cell subsets activated and their ability to kill allogeneic target cells and release
certain types of cytokines, NK cells can promote the activation/expansion of pro-
inflammatory Th1 cells or regulatory Th2/Treg cells thus tilting the balance of alloimmunity …
Summary
Solid organ transplantation is associated with the early activation of NK cells, which are then licensed to kill allogeneic target cells directly or via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and release various chemokines and immunomodulatory cytokines. Depending upon the nature of NK cell subsets activated and their ability to kill allogeneic target cells and release certain types of cytokines, NK cells can promote the activation/expansion of pro-inflammatory Th1 cells or regulatory Th2/Treg cells thus tilting the balance of alloimmunity towards rejection or tolerance. An in-depth understanding of these mechanisms will be necessary in order to design therapies targeting NK cells in human transplantation.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins