Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells
Natural killer (NK) cells are a main subset of innate lymphocytes that contribute to host immune protection against viruses and tumors by mediating target cell killing and secreting a wide array of cytokines. Their functions are finely regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory recepto...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.688918/full |
| _version_ | 1818889609018343424 |
|---|---|
| author | Giorgio Santoni Consuelo Amantini Matteo Santoni Federica Maggi Federica Maggi Maria Beatrice Morelli Angela Santoni Angela Santoni |
| author_facet | Giorgio Santoni Consuelo Amantini Matteo Santoni Federica Maggi Federica Maggi Maria Beatrice Morelli Angela Santoni Angela Santoni |
| author_sort | Giorgio Santoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural killer (NK) cells are a main subset of innate lymphocytes that contribute to host immune protection against viruses and tumors by mediating target cell killing and secreting a wide array of cytokines. Their functions are finely regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory receptors and involve also adhesive interactions. Mechanotransduction is the process in which physical forces sensed by mechanosensors are translated into chemical signaling. Herein, we report findings on the involvement of this mechanism that is mainly mediated by actin cytoskeleton, in the regulation of NK cell adhesion, migration, tissue infiltration and functions. Actin represents the structural basis for NK cell immunological synapse (NKIS) and polarization of secretory apparatus. NK-target cell interaction involves the formation of both uropods and membrane nanotubes that allow target cell interaction over long distances. Actin retrograde flow (ARF) regulates NK cell signaling and controls the equilibrium between activation versus inhibition. Activating NKIS is associated with rapid lamellipodial ARF, whereas lower centripetal actin flow is present during inhibitory NKIS where β actin can associate with the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. Overall, a better knowledge of mechanotransduction might represent a future challenge: Realization of nanomaterials tailored for NK cells, would be important to translate in vitro studies in in vivo new immunotherapeutic approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:11:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e34e889adde24fee9d19abc57d55e3fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:11:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e34e889adde24fee9d19abc57d55e3fe2022-12-21T20:13:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242021-07-011210.3389/fimmu.2021.688918688918Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer CellsGiorgio Santoni0Consuelo Amantini1Matteo Santoni2Federica Maggi3Federica Maggi4Maria Beatrice Morelli5Angela Santoni6Angela Santoni7School of Pharmacy, Section of Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, ItalySchool of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, ItalyMacerata Hospital, Oncology Unit, Macerata, ItalySchool of Pharmacy, Section of Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, ItalyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, ItalySchool of Pharmacy, Section of Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, ItalyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, ItalyNatural killer (NK) cells are a main subset of innate lymphocytes that contribute to host immune protection against viruses and tumors by mediating target cell killing and secreting a wide array of cytokines. Their functions are finely regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory receptors and involve also adhesive interactions. Mechanotransduction is the process in which physical forces sensed by mechanosensors are translated into chemical signaling. Herein, we report findings on the involvement of this mechanism that is mainly mediated by actin cytoskeleton, in the regulation of NK cell adhesion, migration, tissue infiltration and functions. Actin represents the structural basis for NK cell immunological synapse (NKIS) and polarization of secretory apparatus. NK-target cell interaction involves the formation of both uropods and membrane nanotubes that allow target cell interaction over long distances. Actin retrograde flow (ARF) regulates NK cell signaling and controls the equilibrium between activation versus inhibition. Activating NKIS is associated with rapid lamellipodial ARF, whereas lower centripetal actin flow is present during inhibitory NKIS where β actin can associate with the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. Overall, a better knowledge of mechanotransduction might represent a future challenge: Realization of nanomaterials tailored for NK cells, would be important to translate in vitro studies in in vivo new immunotherapeutic approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.688918/fullmechanosensationmechanotransductionnatural killer (NK) cellsimmunological synapsecytotoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Giorgio Santoni Consuelo Amantini Matteo Santoni Federica Maggi Federica Maggi Maria Beatrice Morelli Angela Santoni Angela Santoni Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells Frontiers in Immunology mechanosensation mechanotransduction natural killer (NK) cells immunological synapse cytotoxicity |
| title | Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells |
| title_full | Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells |
| title_fullStr | Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells |
| title_short | Mechanosensation and Mechanotransduction in Natural Killer Cells |
| title_sort | mechanosensation and mechanotransduction in natural killer cells |
| topic | mechanosensation mechanotransduction natural killer (NK) cells immunological synapse cytotoxicity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.688918/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT giorgiosantoni mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT consueloamantini mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT matteosantoni mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT federicamaggi mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT federicamaggi mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT mariabeatricemorelli mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT angelasantoni mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells AT angelasantoni mechanosensationandmechanotransductioninnaturalkillercells |