Study reveals how to activate the immune system’s natural killer cells to protect against cancer and other diseases

New research reveals factors that control the interplay of natural killer (NK) cells—which are part of the body's innate, or first line, immune response—with tumor cells, viral infections, and solid organ transplants. The results, which are published in Science Advances and were discovered by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), could be used to help protect people from cancer, invading pathogens, autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, and transplant rejection.
New research reveals factors that control the interplay of natural killer (NK) cells—which are part of the body’s innate, or first line, immune response—with tumor cells, viral infections, and solid organ transplants. The results, which are published in Science Advances and were discovered by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), could be used to help protect people from cancer, invading pathogens, autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, and transplant rejection.