Natural Killer (NK) cells form an integral component of the immune response, especially against virally infected cells and cancer cells. Although our knowledge of NK cell biology has grown rapidly over the decades, much remains to be explored about these exiguously present cytotoxic lymphocytes. Defects in number or function of these cells are termed as NK cell defects (NKD) can be broadly classified into isolated, associated with inborn errors of the immune system, and transient. The latter could be attributed to infection, critical illness, pregnancy, therapeutic agents and other pathological conditions. Though NK cells are been known about for more than four decades, there remains large gaps in knowledge and translational applications. There is still a scarcity of assays for their evaluation especially in routine clinical set-up and a significant gap in knowledge concerning their influence on pathogenesis and response to treatments of multiple inflammatory disorders. Thus, many of these patients remain undiagnosed.
NK cells have gained diagnostic and prognostic significance in last few decades with increasing literature portraying their role in inflammatory diseases pathology and therapy. However, even though these cells have importance in research set-up, this significance has not yet reached routine clinical set-up. Various inherited genetic defects, pathological conditions, and therapies are known to have immunosuppressive effects on NK cells, causing NK cell defects. However, in many of these cases the mechanism remains unclear. This could be attributed to lack of studies focusing on NK cell immune-biology, influence of varied pathological conditions on its immunophenotype and functions; and its impact on outcome. In the future, translation of this knowledge from “bench-to-bedside” will definitely contribute to better diagnosis and therapeutics in multiple pathological conditions. Thus, the main focus of this research topic will be to explore recent advances in understanding genetic as well as transient NK cell defects, its diagnosis and its treatment.
This Research Topic will give a comprehensive overview about the NK cell defects contributing to inflammatory diseases with emphasis on methods for its evaluation; and its impact on pathogenesis and response to therapy. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods, Mini-Reviews and Perspective articles. The themes addressed by this Research Topic will include, but are not limited to, the followings:
• Novel markers or assays for evaluating NK cell phenotype and functions, especially in a clinical set-up.
• Significance of comprehensively evaluating NK cells for diagnosis and prognosis of various inflammatory diseases with a focus on viral infection, sepsis, malignancy and in patients with inborn error in immunity.
• Influence of varied treatments on NK cell functions and its impact on outcome.
• Strategies to augment the function of NK cells for treating multiple pathological conditions especially inflammatory diseases.
Natural Killer (NK) cells form an integral component of the immune response, especially against virally infected cells and cancer cells. Although our knowledge of NK cell biology has grown rapidly over the decades, much remains to be explored about these exiguously present cytotoxic lymphocytes. Defects in number or function of these cells are termed as NK cell defects (NKD) can be broadly classified into isolated, associated with inborn errors of the immune system, and transient. The latter could be attributed to infection, critical illness, pregnancy, therapeutic agents and other pathological conditions. Though NK cells are been known about for more than four decades, there remains large gaps in knowledge and translational applications. There is still a scarcity of assays for their evaluation especially in routine clinical set-up and a significant gap in knowledge concerning their influence on pathogenesis and response to treatments of multiple inflammatory disorders. Thus, many of these patients remain undiagnosed.
NK cells have gained diagnostic and prognostic significance in last few decades with increasing literature portraying their role in inflammatory diseases pathology and therapy. However, even though these cells have importance in research set-up, this significance has not yet reached routine clinical set-up. Various inherited genetic defects, pathological conditions, and therapies are known to have immunosuppressive effects on NK cells, causing NK cell defects. However, in many of these cases the mechanism remains unclear. This could be attributed to lack of studies focusing on NK cell immune-biology, influence of varied pathological conditions on its immunophenotype and functions; and its impact on outcome. In the future, translation of this knowledge from “bench-to-bedside” will definitely contribute to better diagnosis and therapeutics in multiple pathological conditions. Thus, the main focus of this research topic will be to explore recent advances in understanding genetic as well as transient NK cell defects, its diagnosis and its treatment.
This Research Topic will give a comprehensive overview about the NK cell defects contributing to inflammatory diseases with emphasis on methods for its evaluation; and its impact on pathogenesis and response to therapy. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods, Mini-Reviews and Perspective articles. The themes addressed by this Research Topic will include, but are not limited to, the followings:
• Novel markers or assays for evaluating NK cell phenotype and functions, especially in a clinical set-up.
• Significance of comprehensively evaluating NK cells for diagnosis and prognosis of various inflammatory diseases with a focus on viral infection, sepsis, malignancy and in patients with inborn error in immunity.
• Influence of varied treatments on NK cell functions and its impact on outcome.
• Strategies to augment the function of NK cells for treating multiple pathological conditions especially inflammatory diseases.
