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Natural killer cells: fast-acting immune cells that destroy abnormal cells without needing to be trained on a specific target. They specialise in killing cells that have hidden themselves from T cells.
NK cells look for the absence of normal 'self' markers (HLA class I) and the presence of stress markers, so a tumour that escapes T cells by dropping HLA becomes an NK target; they also execute antibody-dependent killing (ADCC) by recognising antibodies coating a cell, which is part of how trastuzumab and rituximab work. Their killing does not require matching between donor and patient, so NK cells from healthy donors or cell lines can be engineered (CAR-NK) into off-the-shelf therapies with less risk of the graft attacking the patient. Tumours suppress them with TGF-beta and by shedding decoy ligands, and NK-directed drugs and engagers are an active area of development.
In plain words · CD56 identifies natural killer cells, the part of the immune system that kills without needing to be taught what to look for. The same marker appears on neuroendocrine cancers, which is why it is used in diagnosis as well.
Showing the target this term concerns: CD56.
Shares FCGR3A, Fc engineering / effector function, ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), CAR-NK & CAR-macrophage.
Shares Fc engineering / effector function, Antibody, Monoclonal antibodies.
Shares FCGR3A, Fc engineering / effector function, ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), Monoclonal antibodies.
Shares Antibody, Immune system, T cell.
Shares Antibody, Immune system, T cell.
Shares Fc engineering / effector function, ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity), Monoclonal antibodies.
Shares CAR-NK & CAR-macrophage, Allogeneic (off-the-shelf) cell therapy.