Empowering NK cells against cancer

Immunology Tumors release factors, such as the cytokine transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β), that block antitumor immunity mediated by natural killer (NK) immune cells by promoting their differentiation into a less suppressive cell type. Rautela et al. found that activin-A, another member of the TGF-β family, had similar effects on both mouse and human NK cells but through a pathway independent of TGF-β. Inhibition of activin-A reduced skin cancer growth in a mouse melanoma model, suggesting that targeting this pathway could enhance NK cell function and antitumor immunity. Sci. Signal. 12 , eaat7527 (2019).