NKp44 recognition of platelet-derived growth factor D enhances the cytolytic activity of natural killer cells

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells that play a critical role in tumor surveillance by releasing proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic granules. NKp44 is an activating receptor that promotes NK cell secretion of TNF and IFN-γ upon engaging platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF-DD), a ligand frequently overexpressed in aggressive malignancies, such as glioblastoma (GBM). However, whether NKp44-mediated recognition of PDGF-DD can directly enhance NK cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells remains unclear. Here we investigated the effect of PDGF-DD stimulation on NK cell cytotoxicity by analyzing the activity of cytotoxic transcriptional programs and cytolytic functio..