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PMID: 31616440 Published · epublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

NK Cell Metabolism and Tumor Microenvironment.

Frontiers in immunology ·Vol. 10 ·2019-00-00 ·Pages 2278

Terrén I, Orrantia A, Vitallé J, Zenarruzabeitia O, Borrego F

Abstract

Natural Killer (NK) cells are characterized by their potential to kill tumor cells by different means without previous sensitization and have, therefore, become a valuable tool in cancer immunotherapy. However, their efficacy against solid tumors is still poor and further studies are required to improve it. One of the major restrictions for NK cell activity is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). There, tumor and other immune cells create the appropriate conditions for tumor proliferation while, among others, preventing NK cell activation. Furthermore, NK cell metabolism is impaired in the TME, presumably due to nutrient and oxygen deprivation, and the higher concentration of tumor-derived metabolic end products, such as lactate. This metabolic restriction of NK cells limits their effector functions, and it could represent a potential target to focus on to improve the efficacy of NK cell-based therapies against solid tumors. In this review, we discuss the potential effect of TME into NK cell metabolism and its influence in NK cell effector functions.

Keywords
NK cell TME amino acid glucose glycolysis hypoxia metabolism tumor microenvironment
MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Proliferation Humans Immune Tolerance/immunology Immunotherapy/methods Killer Cells, Natural/immunology,metabolism Lymphocyte Activation/immunology Neoplasms/immunology,metabolism,therapy Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Terrén Iñigo
Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
Orrantia Ane
Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
Vitallé Joana
Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
Zenarruzabeitia Olatz
Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
Borrego Francisco
Immunopathology Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain. | Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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Article Info
Journal
Frontiers in immunology
Abbr.
Front Immunol
ISSN
1664-3224
DOI
10.3389/fimmu.2019.02278
Published
2019-00-00
Epub
2019-00-24
Pages
2278
Language
English
Region
Switzerland
NLM ID
101560960
PMCID
PMC6769035
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02278 PMC Full Text View journal details
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