Oldham R K
Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1983;2(4):323-36. doi: 10.1007/BF00048565.
The biology of the natural killer cell system is being investigated by many different laboratories using multiple approaches. The rationale for these investigations is the experimental evidence that NK cells play some role in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis, convey some protective immunity and may be operative in control of differentiation from fetal life to adulthood. Thus, a survey of the literature reveals a multiplicity of studies examining many of these potential roles for NK cells. This review will attempt to summarize some of the findings critical to an understanding of the role NK cells play in immunophysiology and in immune reactions to various diseases. Even after ten years of study, the whole system of 'natural' reactivity remains difficult to define. The evidence available would indicate that the NK system while incompletely understood, may be manipulated in favor of the host when threatened by infectious or neoplastic disorders.
许多不同的实验室正在使用多种方法研究自然杀伤细胞系统的生物学特性。这些研究的理论依据是实验证据，即自然杀伤细胞在抑制肿瘤生长和转移、传递某种保护性免疫以及可能在从胎儿期到成年期的分化控制中发挥作用。因此，对文献的调查显示，有大量研究探讨了自然杀伤细胞的许多这些潜在作用。本综述将试图总结一些对于理解自然杀伤细胞在免疫生理学和对各种疾病的免疫反应中所起作用至关重要的发现。即使经过十年的研究，“自然”反应的整个系统仍然难以定义。现有证据表明，自然杀伤细胞系统虽然尚未完全了解，但在受到感染性或肿瘤性疾病威胁时，可能会被操控以利于宿主。
