Fogel Leslie A, Yokoyama Wayne M, French Anthony R
Arthritis Res Ther. 2013 Jul 11;15(4):216. doi: 10.1186/ar4232.
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play a critical role in early host defense against viruses. Through their cytolytic capacity and generation of cytokines and chemokines, NK cells modulate the activity of other components of the innate and adaptive immune systems and have been implicated in the initiation or maintenance of autoimmune responses. This review focuses on recent research elucidating a potential immunoregulatory role for NK cells in T-cell and B-cell-mediated autoimmune disorders in humans, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematous. A better understanding of the contributions of NK cells to the development of autoimmunity may lead to novel therapeutic targets in these diseases.
自然杀伤（NK）细胞是先天性淋巴细胞，在宿主早期抗病毒防御中起关键作用。通过其细胞溶解能力以及细胞因子和趋化因子的产生，NK细胞调节先天性和适应性免疫系统其他成分的活性，并与自身免疫反应的启动或维持有关。本综述重点关注近期研究，这些研究阐明了NK细胞在人类T细胞和B细胞介导的自身免疫性疾病中的潜在免疫调节作用，尤其关注多发性硬化症、类风湿性关节炎和系统性红斑狼疮。更好地理解NK细胞对自身免疫发展的贡献可能会为这些疾病带来新的治疗靶点。
