Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease
It is well established that natural killer (NK) cells are involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, they can recognize molecules induced at the cell surface by stress signals and virus infections. The functions of NK cells in the gut are much more complex. Gut NK cells are not precisely...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00961/full |
| _version_ | 1811260975087616000 |
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| author | Alessandro Poggi Roberto Benelli Roberta Venè Delfina Costa Nicoletta Ferrari Francesca Tosetti Maria Raffaella Zocchi |
| author_facet | Alessandro Poggi Roberto Benelli Roberta Venè Delfina Costa Nicoletta Ferrari Francesca Tosetti Maria Raffaella Zocchi |
| author_sort | Alessandro Poggi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well established that natural killer (NK) cells are involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, they can recognize molecules induced at the cell surface by stress signals and virus infections. The functions of NK cells in the gut are much more complex. Gut NK cells are not precisely organized in lymphoid aggregates but rather scattered in the epithelium or in the stroma, where they come in contact with a multitude of antigens derived from commensal or pathogenic microorganisms in addition to components of microbiota. Furthermore, NK cells in the bowel interact with several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T lymphocytes, and contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis and development of efficient immune responses. NK cells have a key role in the response to intestinal bacterial infections, primarily through production of IFNγ, which can stimulate recruitment of additional NK cells from peripheral blood leading to amplification of the anti-bacterial immune response. Additionally, NK cells can have a role in the pathogenesis of gut autoimmune inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These diseases are considered relevant to the generation of gastrointestinal malignancies. Indeed, the role of gut-associated NK cells in the immune response to bowel cancers is known. Thus, in the gut immune system, NK cells play a dual role, participating in both physiological and pathogenic processes. In this review, we will analyze the known functions of NK cells in the gut mucosa both in health and disease, focusing on the cross-talk among bowel microenvironment, epithelial barrier integrity, microbiota, and NK cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:55:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33987bd6e1f74054bcb406d0e99a4096 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:55:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-33987bd6e1f74054bcb406d0e99a40962022-12-22T03:20:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242019-05-011010.3389/fimmu.2019.00961441580Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and DiseaseAlessandro Poggi0Roberto Benelli1Roberta Venè2Delfina Costa3Nicoletta Ferrari4Francesca Tosetti5Maria Raffaella Zocchi6Molecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyImmunology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyMolecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyMolecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyMolecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyMolecular Oncology and Angiogenesis Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, ItalyDivision of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, ItalyIt is well established that natural killer (NK) cells are involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. Indeed, they can recognize molecules induced at the cell surface by stress signals and virus infections. The functions of NK cells in the gut are much more complex. Gut NK cells are not precisely organized in lymphoid aggregates but rather scattered in the epithelium or in the stroma, where they come in contact with a multitude of antigens derived from commensal or pathogenic microorganisms in addition to components of microbiota. Furthermore, NK cells in the bowel interact with several cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T lymphocytes, and contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis and development of efficient immune responses. NK cells have a key role in the response to intestinal bacterial infections, primarily through production of IFNγ, which can stimulate recruitment of additional NK cells from peripheral blood leading to amplification of the anti-bacterial immune response. Additionally, NK cells can have a role in the pathogenesis of gut autoimmune inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These diseases are considered relevant to the generation of gastrointestinal malignancies. Indeed, the role of gut-associated NK cells in the immune response to bowel cancers is known. Thus, in the gut immune system, NK cells play a dual role, participating in both physiological and pathogenic processes. In this review, we will analyze the known functions of NK cells in the gut mucosa both in health and disease, focusing on the cross-talk among bowel microenvironment, epithelial barrier integrity, microbiota, and NK cells.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00961/fullgut-associated lymphoid tissuesnatural killer cellsinnate lymphoid cellsinflammatory bowel diseasecolorectal carcinoma |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Poggi Roberto Benelli Roberta Venè Delfina Costa Nicoletta Ferrari Francesca Tosetti Maria Raffaella Zocchi Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease Frontiers in Immunology gut-associated lymphoid tissues natural killer cells innate lymphoid cells inflammatory bowel disease colorectal carcinoma |
| title | Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease |
| title_full | Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease |
| title_fullStr | Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease |
| title_short | Human Gut-Associated Natural Killer Cells in Health and Disease |
| title_sort | human gut associated natural killer cells in health and disease |
| topic | gut-associated lymphoid tissues natural killer cells innate lymphoid cells inflammatory bowel disease colorectal carcinoma |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00961/full |
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