Natural Killer Cells News and Research

RSS

Immune switch plays a critical role in successful pregnancies

Early pregnancy depends on a remarkable act of coordination. Before the placenta can nourish a growing fetus, the embryo must securely "land" and connect with the mother's blood supply - a process guided by a specialized group of immune cells called uterine natural killer cells, or uNK cells.

12 Mar 2026

Gut microbiota-derived metabolite directly shapes immune responses in bacterial pneumonia

Sepsis and severe pneumonia are frequently accompanied by disruption of the gut microbiota, leading to immune dysfunction and increased susceptibility to secondary infections.

4 Mar 2026

RSV and COVID-19 trigger different immune responses in infants

Young infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) often become much sicker compared to those infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

25 Feb 2026

New strategy harnesses pre-existing antiviral immunity to boost anti-tumor responses

Because many different types of cancer cells overexpress programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), this cell surface protein is a major target of cancer immunotherapy.

11 Feb 2026

Enhanced natural killer cells show promise for HIV remission

More than 30 million people with HIV must take antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications daily to keep the virus under control, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

5 Feb 2026

Genetic inheritance and life experience leave distinct epigenetic marks in immune cells

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us tremendous perspective on how wildly symptoms and outcomes can vary between patients experiencing the same infection.

29 Jan 2026

Lund researchers create "recipe book" for reprogramming immune cells to fight disease

In order to reprogram readily available cells into specific immune cells that fight various diseases, one must know the "recipe" for the transformation.

14 Jan 2026

Recent advances in CAR-NK cell therapy could revolutionze cancer treatment

Cell-based immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment, yet their widespread use remains constrained by safety risks, manufacturing complexity, and limited effectiveness against solid tumors.

8 Jan 2026

Multiple biological systems show abnormalities in ME/CFS patients

New Australian research has identified simultaneous abnormalities across multiple biological systems in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

16 Dec 2025

Anxiety and insomnia linked to reduced natural killer cell levels in young women

Natural killer (NK) cells are the bodyguards of our immune system. As a first line of defense, they destroy invading pathogens, foreign bodies, and infected cells in early stages, thereby preventing them from spreading.

10 Dec 2025

Innovative research reveals FGD3 as a key player in breast cancer cell death

A naturally occurring protein that tends to be expressed at higher levels in breast cancer cells boosts the effectiveness of some anticancer agents, including doxorubicin, one of the most widely used chemotherapies, and a preclinical drug known as ErSO, researchers report.

13 Nov 2025

Therapeutic potential of Scleromitrion diffusum in gastric cancer treatment

Gastric cancer remains a major global health challenge, characterized by high mortality and limited therapeutic efficacy, especially in advanced stages.

30 Oct 2025

Immune system found to be more mobile and flexible than previously thought

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that some natural killer cells, NK cells, temporarily reside in our organs and then leave them via the lymphatic system.

14 Oct 2025

Engineered antibody triggers powerful anti-tumor response in advanced cancers

Many advanced cancers develop resistance to treatment and become highly aggressive, often leaving patients with limited treatment options.

13 Oct 2025

Decades of exercise found to train the immune system for better defense

In addition to strengthening the muscles, lungs, and heart, regular physical exercise also strengthens the immune system.

8 Oct 2025

Engineered CAR-NK cells show enhanced cancer killing and immune evasion

One of the newest weapons that scientists have developed against cancer is a type of engineered immune cell known as CAR-NK (natural killer) cells. Similar to CAR-T cells, these cells can be programmed to attack cancer cells.

8 Oct 2025

PANoptosis emerges as a promising strategy against liver cancer

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains one of the deadliest cancers, driven by high recurrence and resistance to therapy.

18 Sep 2025

Mushrooms deliver nutrition medicine and sustainability solutions in one package

This Food Science & Nutrition review highlights mushrooms as nutrient-rich functional foods packed with bioactive compounds that support human health. It explores their therapeutic, industrial, and environmental applications, from disease prevention and drug discovery to bioremediation and bioenergy.

8 Sep 2025

Targeting ADAR1 offers new hope against glioblastoma

The most common and aggressive type of adult brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is notoriously resistant to treatment, with a median survival of just 14 months following diagnosis.

5 Sep 2025

New genome-wide CRISPR screening tool boosts natural killer cells to fight cancer

Natural killer (NK) cells became markedly better at killing cancer cells after scientists removed key gene targets identified through a new genome-wide CRISPR screening tool, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

21 Aug 2025