具抗原呈递功能的NK细胞新亚群:IKDC细胞

A new NK cell subset with antigen presentation function:IKDC cells

近年来在小鼠体内发现了一群新的细胞亚群——产生干扰素的杀伤DC(Interferon-producing killer DC,IKDC)。这群细胞在表型上既表达NK细胞的标志分子,也表达DC的标志分子;在功能上,IKDC能分泌IFN,具有细胞毒性,同时还具备抗原递呈能力。在正常小鼠体内IKDC广泛存在于全身各淋巴器官,而且各组织器官中IKDC的表型基本相似。随后研究认为IKDC在来源上更接近于NK细胞。究竟是NK细胞还是DC的亚群目前没有明确定论。IKDC的发现为我们研究天然免疫和适应性免疫提供了一个新的途径。

A new NK cell subset with antigen presentation function was recently found and called as interferon-producing killer dendritic cells （IKDC ceils）. These cells co-express surface markers of NK cells and DCs; functionally, they can secrete interferons, kill target cells and have antigen-presenting ability. IKDCs extensively exist in almost all lymphoid tissue or organs with similar phenotype, but recent studies indi- cated that IKDCs were developmently not from DC cells but from NK cells, the conclusion of which is still in its early stage. The discovery of IKDC will be help to understand the link between innate and adaptive immunity.