CD56 in the Immune System: More Than a Marker for Cytotoxicity ?
(1) Van Acker HH (2) Capsomidis A (3) Smits EL (4) Van Tendeloo VF
(1) Van Acker HH (2) Capsomidis A (3) Smits EL (4) Van Tendeloo VF
Over the past years, the phenotypic and functional boundaries distinguishing the main cell subsets of the immune system have become increasingly blurred. In this respect, CD56 (also known as neural cell adhesion molecule) is a very good example. CD56 is the archetypal phenotypic marker of natural killer cells but can actually be expressed by many more immune cells, including alpha beta T cells, gamma delta T cells, dendritic cells, and monocytes. Common to all these CD56-expressing cell types are strong immunostimulatory effector functions, including T helper 1 cytokine production and an efficient cytotoxic capacity. Interestingly, both numerical and functional deficiencies and phenotypic alterations of the CD56+ immune cell fraction have been reported in patients with various infectious, autoimmune, or malignant diseases. In this review, we will discuss our current knowledge on the expression and function of CD56 in the hematopoietic system, both in health and disease.
Author Info: (1) Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University
Author Info: (1) Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. (2) Cancer Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom. (3) Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium. Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. (4) Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Citation: Front Immunol 2017 8:892 Epub07/24/2017
