Interaction of Human Natural Killer Cells with the Vascular Endothelium: Characterization of their Migratory Ability and Adhesive Molecules

Most natural killer (NK) cells reside in the blood compartment, but they can also be found in tissues under physiological as well as pathological conditions. In fact, cells with NK activity and large granular lymphocyte morphology are present in the murine intestinal epithelium, 1 and accumulate in the liver after systemic inoculation of Biological Response Modifier (BRM). 2 NK cells are also found at sites of bacterial or viral infections, 35 and in allografted tissues right after transplant. 6 Although the mechanisms involved in the localization of NK cells in tissues are crucial events in the immune response and inflammation, they have received less attention than other functions such as cytotoxic activity.