Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of the innate immune system, capable of recognizing and eliminating patho-gens without needing specific antigen presentation. Although NK cells have been studied for decades, many biological fea-tures and therapeutic applications remain unclear. This article aims to provide an overview of NK cell characteristics, mecha-nisms of action, and strategies for biomass expansion. Based on a synthesis of review articles, the findings indicate that NK cells originate from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and are classified into two subsets based on CD56 surface expression levels. They function primarily through cytotoxicity and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Biomass expansion strategies include cytokine-based stimulation or feeder cell co-culture. These insights support ongoing research to enhance NK cell functionality and production, laying the groundwork for CAR-NK therapies to strengthen immune defences, particularly against...
Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of the innate immune system, capable of recognizing and eliminating patho-gens without needing specific antigen presentation. Although NK cells have been studied for decades, many biological fea-tures and therapeutic applications remain unclear. This article aims to provide an overview of NK cell characteristics, mecha-nisms of action, and strategies for biomass expansion. Based on a synthesis of review articles, the findings indicate that NK cells originate from CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and are classified into two subsets based on CD56 surface expression levels. They function primarily through cytotoxicity and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Biomass expansion strategies include cytokine-based stimulation or feeder cell co-culture. These insights support ongoing research to enhance NK cell functionality and production, laying the groundwork for CAR-NK therapies to strengthen immune defences, particularly against cancer cells.