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REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1449441
This article is part of the Research Topic Immune Cell Therapy Approaches Targeting Tumor Microenvironment View all 7 articles

Interleukin signaling in the regulation of natural killer cells biology in breast cancer

Provisionally accepted
Jiachi Xu Jiachi Xu 1Hongyu Gao Hongyu Gao 1*MUHAMMAD SALMAN AZHAR MUHAMMAD SALMAN AZHAR 1Haifan Xu Haifan Xu 2*Siyuan Chen Siyuan Chen 2*Mingcan Li Mingcan Li 2*Xinxi Ni Xinxi Ni 2*Ting Yan Ting Yan 2*Hui Zhou Hui Zhou 1*Qian Long Qian Long 1*Wenjun Yi Wenjun Yi 1*
  • 1 Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
  • 2 The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    In the field of breast cancer treatment, the immunotherapy involving natural killer (NK) cells is increasingly highlighting its distinct potential and significance. Members of the interleukin (IL) family play pivotal regulatory roles in the growth, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis of NK cells, and are central to their anti-tumor activity. These cytokines enhance the ability of NK cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells by binding to specific receptors and activating downstream signaling pathways. Furthermore, interleukins do not function in isolation; the synergistic or antagonistic interactions between different interleukins can drive NK cells toward various functional pathways, ultimately leading to diverse outcomes for breast cancer patients. This paper reviews the intricate relationship between NK cells and interleukins, particularly within the breast cancer tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical studies and advancements in NK cell therapy for breast cancer, along with the potential applications of interleukin signaling in these therapies. In conclusion, this article underscores the critical role of NK cells and interleukin signaling in breast cancer treatment, providing valuable insights and a significant reference for future research and clinical practice.

    Keywords: breast cancer, interleukin, Natural Killer cell, immunology, Immunotherapy, Tumor Microenvironment

    Received: 15 Jun 2024; Accepted: 09 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Xu, Gao, AZHAR, Xu, Chen, Li, Ni, Yan, Zhou, Long and Yi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Hongyu Gao, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Haifan Xu, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
    Siyuan Chen, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
    Mingcan Li, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
    Xinxi Ni, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
    Ting Yan, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
    Hui Zhou, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Qian Long, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Wenjun Yi, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.