UCSF

Immunological memory is an evolutionary adaptation of the vertebrate immune system that protects the host from repeated pathogen infection. T and B cells possess the specificity and longevity required to generate immune memory, whereas natural killer (NK) cells make up a component of the immune system that was not thought to possess these features. However, much evidence from the last decade has challenged this dogma. The investigators were asked to address the following questions: Is there NK cell memory? And can NK cell memory be harnessed for vaccination? Thus, this article explores the recent literature showing immune memory in NK cells. Along with highlighting these studies, we speculate how NK cell memory can be harnessed in immunization strategies against infectious diseases and cancer.