NK cells – Versatile tools for viral defense and cancer treatment

Abstract

About 150 NK cell researchers met at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, Germany from 26–28 September 2012 for the Natural Killer Cell Symposium which was organized by the NK cell study group of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI) and sponsored by the European Journal of Immunology (EJI), the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) and the DGfI. The meeting was a forum for the discussion of the function and regulation of these fascinating innate immune cells and the opportunities for the transfer of this knowledge to cancer immunotherapy.

Immunosuppressive effects ofPteridium aquilinumenhance susceptibility to urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis

“…It is well established that ptaquiloside is the main bracken carcinogen (Hirono, 1986), producing this effect via initial DNA damage (Yamada et al, 2007). Likewise, this compound can suppress some aspects of the cellular immune response (Latorre et al, 2009) and, as such, dampening immunosurveillance against cancers (Momburg et al, 2013). In the present work, we demonstrate that suppression of NK cell cytotoxicity caused by P. aquilinum resulted in enhanced susceptibility to cancer development -as indicated by a higher number of benign tumors and pre-neoplastic lung lesions in mice treated with both plant and carcinogen (urethane) than in mice given only urethane.…”

“…NK cells play an important role in innate immunity against infectious diseases and in cancer immunosurveillance by killing, respectively, infected and cancerous cells (Momburg et al, 2013). Suppression of NK cell activity has already been related to the escape of tumoral cells and, consequently, cancer growth (Zitvogel et al, 2006).…”