Innate Immune Cells May Actually Remember Their Targets

Human natural killer cells, previously considered not to participate in adaptive immunity, remember viral antigens after initial exposures, according to a new study.

Written byEmma Yasinski

| 3 min read

nk natural killer cell immunology immune cell adaptive innate immunity

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ABOVE: A human natural killer cell
FLICKR, NIAID

Scientists have long believed that humans and many other mammals have two types of immune systems: innate and adaptive. The former is driven by natural killer (NK) cells, which attack any cell it identifies as non-self, the latter by B and T cells that form long-term memories of particular antigens they meet so they are more prepared to fight that antigen in the future.

The NK cells are thought to form the first barrier of defense against any incoming pathogen, poking holes in the cells to kill them. Several years ago, researchers discovered that these NK cells may be able to form “memories” of previous antigen exposures and play a role in adaptive immunity, independent of B and T cells—in mice, at least.

Today (May 10), researchers report in Science Immunology the first observation of this NK function in humans, too.

“We were ...

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Meet the Author

Emma Yasinski
Emma is a Florida-based freelance journalist and regular contributor for The Scientist. A graduate of Boston University’s Science and Medical Journalism Master’s Degree program, Emma has been covering microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, health, and anything else that makes her wonder since 2016. She studied neuroscience in college, but even before causing a few mishaps and explosions in the chemistry lab, she knew she preferred a career in scientific reporting to one in scientific research.
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