Post-transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Activation

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells play key roles in innate and adaptive immune defenses. NK cell responses are mediated by two major mechanisms: the direct cytolysis of target cells, and immune regulation by production of various cytokines. Many previous reports show that the complex NK cell activation process requires de novo gene expression regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Specialized un-translated regions (UTR) of mRNAs are the main mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Analysis of post-transcriptional regulation is needed to clearly understand NK cell biology and, furthermore, harness the power of NK cells for therapeutic aims. This review summarizes the current understanding of mRNA metabolism during NK cell activation, focusing primarily on post-transcriptional regulation.

Keywords: cytotoxicity; immune regulation; natural killer cells; post-transcriptional regulation.

Figure 1

The NK cell immune response. NK cells play a role in the direct cytolysis of target cells and immune regulation by cytokine production. NK cell activation requires de novo gene expression regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which are governed by four-step-expression, specifically the synthesis and degradation of mRNA together with synthesis and degradation of the corresponding proteins. NA: Nucleic acids, AA: Amino acids.