Reveal new secrets of NK cells and develop immunotherapy against cancer cells

  The natural killer (NK) cells of the immune system recognize and attack two main types of dangerous cells: virus-infected cells and cells affected by cancer. When NK cells see cancer cells, they (naturally) kill them. The main focus of the research is to determine how NK cells do this. One way for K cells to detect cancer is to recognize mutated DNA fragments produced by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene.

  Actually, there are two types of HLA genes. The HLA1 genome is responsible for the task of producing proteins that can display cellular DNA for detection and evaluation. However, although the HLA1 gene helps to identify harmful molecules in the body's own cells, the HLA2 gene allows the body to mark and lock invaders from outside the body to collect antibodies against bacteria. Useful for... why

  shows that recent studies have a better prognosis for cancer cells characterized by high expression of HLA2 protein? Of course, the HLA1 group of antigens use NK cells to attack tumor tissues, but they are different from the HLA2 group of antigens that interact with NK cells. error. The University of Colorado (University of Colorado, CU) Cancer Center recently published a study in the journal Nature Immunology showing that NK cells actually interact with molecules in the HLA2 group. This discovery may help researchers make better use of their immune system to fight cancer, but at the same time, it can calm the immune system's attack on healthy tissues under certain autoimmune conditions.

  "It is understood that NK cells interact with the HLA1 group of molecules, but not with the HLA2 group of molecules. The mechanism of the interaction between HLA2 and NK cells is the viewpoint of NK cell biology. Co-author Dr. Paulorman said, He is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Personal Medicine, and School of Medicine at the Chinese University Cancer Center. A collaborator of the German Infectious Disease Center (German Infectious Disease Center) screened various proteins produced by the HLA2 molecular group (HLA2) gene To see if any of them can activate NK cells. "This is called ligand screening. It can test many potential ligands to observe sticking together, but it confirms that HLA2 group molecules do not interact with NK molecules. fact. No one does this because they are researchers. They are very smart and can notice this problem even when others don't know it. In particular, the research team discovered that a type of HLA2 HLA called HLA-dp401 can actually activate NK cells. HLA-dp401 is one of the most common variants (called alleles) found in Europe.

  "The problem is that not all of these HLA2 molecules can be recognized by NK cells. HLA is polymorphic, and different people have different HLA types. What is the next step? Determine whether the patient has the right combination of HLA2 and NK cells. You may be Learn to manipulate the interaction of NK cells with HLA2 molecules," Orman said. Norman's ongoing research hopes to further clarify the mechanism of interaction between HLA2 genes and NK cells.

  Norman said: "Ultimately, this may be another way to direct immune cells to cancer and keep them away from healthy tissue."