Antitumor Immunity Exerted by Natural Killer and Natural Killer T Cells in the Liver.

ABSTRACT: The liver plays crucial roles in systemic immunity and greatly contributes to the systemic defense mechanism. Antitumor immunity in the liver is especially critical for the defense against systemic tumor cell dissemination. To achieve effective defense against metastatic tumor cells, liver immune cells with powerful cytotoxic activities construct a potent defense mechanism. In the liver, as compared with other organs, there is a significantly more intense percentage of innate immune lymphocytes, such as natural killer (NK) and NKT cells. These characteristic lymphocytes survey the portal blood transferred to the liver from the alimentary tract and eliminate malignant cells with their robust cytotoxic ability. Additionally, with their active cytokine-producing capacity, these innate lymphoc

SUBMITTER: Nakashima H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9917438 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature