Unraveling human natural killer cell deficiency.
other · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 22354165.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1172/JCI62620 and PMC identifier 3287242.
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Abstract
NK cells are a component of the innate immune system identified in animals as serving an essential role in antiviral immunity. Establishing their role in human health has been challenging, with the most direct insight coming from the study of NK cell-deficient individuals. However, NK cell deficiencies are rare, and more research is needed. In this issue of the JCI, two independent groups of researchers have simultaneously identified the genetic cause of a human NK cell deficiency as mutation in the MCM4 gene, encoding minichromosome maintenance complex component 4. These reports suggest a critical role for the minichromosome maintenance helicase complex in NK cells and NK cell-mediated host defense.
Medical subject headings
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Cell Cycle Proteins
- DNA Helicases
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Growth Disorders
- Killer Cells, Natural
- Mutation
- Nuclear Proteins