Immune memory is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system in the body. Although natural killer cells (NK cells) are essential innate immune cells for the host’s immediate defense system, they can also differentiate into memory NK cells. Currently, researchers have not fully elucidated the molecular mechanisms behind controlling this differentiation process. Recently, a research report titled “Themis2 regulates natural killer cell memory function and formation” was published in the journal Nature Communications. Scientists from institutions such as the University of Tsukuba in Japan identified a key molecule called Themis2 in NK cells through their research. NK cells play an important role in clearing virus-infected cells in the body, Themis2 molecules can remember viral antigens and further regulate the differentiation of these NK cells into more potent immune memory NK cells, thereby enhancing their killing ability and overall function.
Viral infections often pose a serious threat to the health of the body, and NK cells may serve as the main defense against virus-infected cells. When the virus invades the body, the host’s immune system will retain its memory of the virus, thus remaining in the body for a long period. However, scientists believe that NK cells cannot differentiate into immune memory NK cells that can strongly resist subsequent virus invasion infections.
This latest study may challenge this theory, as researchers have found that NK cells can indeed remember viral antigens and differentiate into immune memory NK cells with considerable killing ability. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this process may still need to be fully elucidated by scientists. Researchers have found that Themis2 molecules located in the cytoplasm of NK cells play a crucial role in regulating the differentiation and function of immune memory NK cells.
Specifically, compared to wild-type NK cells, NK cells lacking Themis2 molecules can more effectively differentiate into immune memory NK cells after cytomegalovirus infection. In addition, immune memory NK cells lacking Themis2 molecules can also effectively clear cells infected with cytomegalovirus. These research findings have the potential to help researchers enhance the differentiation and function of immune memory NK cells by targeting Themis2 molecules, thereby developing new therapeutic strategies for treating viral infections.
In summary, the results of this study indicate that the Themis2 molecule may be able to quantitatively and qualitatively regulate memory formation in NK cells.
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Reference
Nabekura, T., Deborah, E.A., Tahara, S. et al. Themis2 regulates natural killer cell memory function and formation. Nat Commun 14, 7200 (2023). doi：10.1038/s41467-023-42578-8