Natural Killer Cell Engager

A Natural Killer Cell Engager (NKCE) is a type of engineered molecule designed to harness and direct the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells toward specific target cells, such as cancer or virally infected cells. NKCEs function by simultaneously binding to activating receptors on NK cells and antigens on target cells, thereby promoting targeted cell killing. They work by bridging NK cell activating receptors (such as CD16a, NKG2D, or NKG2C) with tumor-associated antigens or other disease-specific markers present on target cells. This engagement leads to activation of NK cell effector functions: degranulation (release of perforin and granzymes), cytokine secretion (e.g., IFN-γ), and direct lysis of the target cell.

Binds both activating receptor(s) on NK cell & antigen(s) on diseased/malignant/infected targets, leading to degranulation/perforin/granzyme release and cytokine secretion.