The recent success of autologous T cell-based therapies in hematological malignancies has spurred interest in applying similar immunotherapy strategies to the treatment of solid tumors. Identified nearly 4 decades ago, natural killer (NK) cells represent an arguably better cell type for immunotherapy development. Natural killer cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that mediate the direct killing of transformed cells with reduced or absent major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and are the effector cells in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Unlike T cells, they do not require human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching allowing for the adoptive transfer of allogeneic NK cells in the clinic. The development of NK cell-based therapies for solid tumors is complicated by the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that can potentially disarm NK cells rendering them inactive. The molecular imaging of NK cells in vivo will be crucial for the development of new therapies allowing for the immediate assessment of therapeutic response and off-target effects. A number of groups have investigated methods for detecting NK cells by optical, nuclear, and magnetic resonance imaging. In this review, we will provide an overview of the advances made in imaging NK cells in both preclinical and clinical studies.

中文翻译：

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天然杀伤细胞的分子成像。

自体基于T细胞的疗法在血液系统恶性肿瘤中的最新成功激发了人们对将相似的免疫疗法应用于实体瘤治疗的兴趣。在将近4年前就已经确定，自然杀伤（NK）细胞代表了免疫治疗发展中一种更好的细胞类型。天然杀伤细胞是细胞毒性淋巴细胞，可通过减少或不存在主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）来介导直接杀死转化细胞，并且是抗体依赖性细胞介导的细胞毒性中的效应细胞。与T细胞不同，它们不需要人类白细胞抗原（HLA）匹配，从而可以在临床中过继移植异基因NK细胞。免疫抑制性肿瘤微环境的存在使基于NK细胞的实体瘤疗法的发展变得复杂，该环境可能会解除NK细胞的武装，使其失去活性。体内NK细胞的分子成像对于新疗法的发展将至关重要，该新疗法可以立即评估治疗反应和脱靶效应。许多小组研究了通过光学，核和磁共振成像检测NK细胞的方法。在这篇综述中，我们将概述临床前和临床研究中对NK细胞成像的进展。许多小组研究了通过光学，核和磁共振成像检测NK细胞的方法。在这篇综述中，我们将概述临床前和临床研究中对NK细胞成像的进展。许多小组研究了通过光学，核和磁共振成像检测NK细胞的方法。在这篇综述中，我们将概述临床前和临床研究中对NK细胞成像的进展。