Development and Functions of Novel NK Cell Subsets
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2025 | Viewed by 44
Special Issue Editor
2. Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
Interests: innate immunity; NK cells; signaling; single-cell transcriptome; cell therapy; CAR-T/NK therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues，
NK cells utilize germline-encoded but not clonotypic activation receptors, which led to the perception that NK cells are highly homogeneous. Conventionally, NK cells were classified primarily using CD56, CD16, and CD57 for their developmental and functional characterizations. Recent breakthroughs in transcriptome-based technology have led to a paradigm shift and helped establish that NK cells comprise highly heterogeneous subsets. While this new knowledge is of high clinical relevance, there is a long road ahead to comprehend the biology and the functional relevance of individual NK cell subsets. Developmental stage-defining transcriptional regulations are required to appreciate the developmental stages of human and murine NK cells. Phenotypic and functional classifications of distinct NK mature subsets are needed to select and expand NK cells toward better clinical utilization and outcomes. Determining the transcriptomic and functional NK subsets based on tissue residency is essential for customizing targeted therapies. Adaptive, memory, and regulatory NK cells establish a bridge between sustained and long-term antigen-specific responses. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these phenomena are far from fully understood. NK cell subsets within the immune-evasive tumor microenvironment provide an opportunity to redefine pre- and post-treatment failures at the mechanistic level.
In this collection of articles, we aim to present new knowledge and questions that challenge the status quo. We welcome NK and non-NK cell biologists to contribute to addressing the unanswered questions in this field.
Prof. Dr. Subramaniam Malarkannan
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- NK cells
- subsets of NK
- tissue-resident NK
- NK subsets within TME
- adaptive NK
- memory NK
- regulatory NK
