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Natural killer cells and tumor metastasis

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Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize tumor cells or stressed cells through ‘missing-self’ signals, such as altered or absent expression of MHC class I molecules. The function of NK cells is regulated by the activation or inhibition of receptors present on their surface. The activation of NK cells results in cytotoxic activity on target cells through release of toxic granules and inflammatory cytokines. However, NK cells infiltrating tumors have been frequently shown to exhibit a skewed phenotype that includes decreased antitumor activity and enhanced protumor activities, such as angiogenesis and metastasis. In fact, many studies have reported that tumor microenvironments induce a protumor phenotype in NK cells. Here, we review the biological properties of NK cells in the context of tumorigenesis and tumor progression, with a specific focus on the interactions between NK cells and critical tumor microenvironments, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, matrix metalloproteinases, and tumor-associated chronic inflammation in tumor metastasis.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2015R1C1A1A02037573). This research was also a part of a project titled “Development of Global Senior-friendly Health Functional Food Materials from Marine Resources“, funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea.

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  1. College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, 132-714, Republic of Korea

    Hwan Hee Lee & Hyosun Cho

  2. Innovative Drug Center, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, 132-714, Republic of Korea

    Hwan Hee Lee & Hyosun Cho

  3. College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute for Microorganisms, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Hyojeung Kang

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  1. Hwan Hee Lee
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Lee, H.H., Kang, H. & Cho, H. Natural killer cells and tumor metastasis. Arch. Pharm. Res. 40, 1037–1049 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-017-0951-9

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