Natural Killer Cell Stimulants

Natural killer (NK) cell stimulants are agents—often cytokines, small molecules, or biologics—that enhance the activity, proliferation, or cytotoxic function of natural killer cells. NK cells are a subset of cytotoxic lymphocytes critical to the innate immune system, playing a key role in immune surveillance by targeting virus-infected cells and tumor cells without prior sensitization. NK cell activity is regulated by a balance between activating (e.g., NCRs, NKG2D) and inhibitory receptors. Stimulation of NK cell activity is being explored as an immunotherapeutic strategy against cancer and viral infections.

Activation via receptor signaling → granule exocytosis & cytokine secretion