Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the first line of host defense by eliminating bacteria, viruses, and mutated cells that might become cancer cells. While the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) typically plays a pivotal role in the function of NK cells, the detailed mechanisms of its regulation have not been fully elucidated. 

A research collaboration led by Xin Sun, Diego Diez, and Shizuo Akira at the Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC) of Osaka University and Yasuharu Nagahama at the Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has revealed that deletion of mRNA endonuclease Regnase-1 promoted NK cell anti-tumor activity. 

(online publishing in Immunity on May 30, 2024)

Contact

Akira Lab

sakirabiken.osaka-u.ac.jp

Host Defense