{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T09:04:55Z","timestamp":1789635895583,"version":"4.0.0"},"reference-count":100,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Immunol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains, HIV infection, and poor efficacy of the BCG vaccine have made TB epidemics difficult to control. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the body\u2019s innate immunity, playing a role not only in the early stages of M.tb infection but also in activating adaptive immune cells to inhibit M.tb proliferation. Recent studies have increasingly revealed significant changes in the number, subsets, and functions of NK cells as TB progresses, with NK cells primarily exhibiting signs of depletion, suggesting a close correlation between NK cell changes and TB progression. Therefore, this article outlines the main changes in NK cells in clinical cohort studies, discusses potential mechanisms of their depletion, and introduces the functions of NK cells, as well as the methods and strategies they use to recognize and kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This can contribute to a better understanding of the role and manifestation of NK cells in TB immunity and provide a more comprehensive perspective for NK cell-based TB treatment strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1917564","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T06:43:31Z","timestamp":1788417811000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Research progress on the role and dysregulation of NK cells in anti-tuberculosis immunity"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Yaqi","family":"Zheng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fuxiang","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bo","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoling","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhigang","family":"Jiao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xuebiao","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tong","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaxing","family":"Deng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yina","family":"Xiong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huang","family":"Zhiqin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junyun","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"College of Medical Technology, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]},{"name":"The First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University","place":["Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics15030291","article-title":"Deficiency of the mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan biosynthesis glycosyltransferase MptC enhances antibacterial immune response and rifapicin antibiotic susceptibility","volume":"15","author":"Hu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Antibiotics (Basel)"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cmi.2023.10.023","article-title":"Tuberculosis prevention: current strategies and future directions","volume":"30","author":"Vasiliu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Infect"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/cvi.00159-08","article-title":"Comparison of intracellular cytokine flow cytometry and an enzyme immunoassay for evaluation of cellular immune response to active tuberculosis","volume":"16","author":"Leung","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clin Vaccine Immunol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-018-0439-x","article-title":"A multi-cohort study of the immune factors associated with M. tuberculosis infection outcomes","volume":"560","author":"Roy Chowdhury","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jlb.4a1020-641rr","article-title":"Differential expression of maturation and activation markers on NK cells in patients with active and latent tuberculosis","volume":"111","author":"Albayrak","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Leukoc Biol"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.imbio.2017.05.016","article-title":"Systemic immunological changes in patients with distinct clinical outcomes during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection","volume":"222","author":"Morais-Papini","year":"2017","journal-title":"Immunobiology"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s44321-024-00106-1","article-title":"LILRB1-HLA-G axis defines a checkpoint driving natural killer cell exhaustion in tuberculosis","volume":"16","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"EMBO Mol Med"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/147323000903700610","article-title":"Changes in lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis","volume":"37","author":"Wu","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Int Med Res"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ebiom.2020.102686","article-title":"Single-cell transcriptomics of blood reveals a natural killer cell subset depletion in tuberculosis","volume":"53","author":"Cai","year":"2020","journal-title":"EBioMedicine"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intimm\/dxp046","article-title":"Functionally relevant decreases in activatory receptor expression on NK cells are associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in vivo and persist after successful treatment","volume":"21","author":"Bozzano","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int Immunol"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15095","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-98367-4","article-title":"CD8\u03b1 marks a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-reactive human NK cell population with high activation potential","volume":"15","author":"Mehanna","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intimp.2023.110360","article-title":"Upregulation of CD226 on subsets of T cells and NK cells is associated with upregulated adhesion molecules and cytotoxic factors in patients with tuberculosis","volume":"120","author":"Qin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int Immunopharmacol"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2021.662128","article-title":"HLA-DR-positive NK cells expand in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens and mediate mycobacteria-induced T cell activation","volume":"12","author":"Kust","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2023.03.020","article-title":"Systemic immune dysregulation in severe tuberculosis patients revealed by a single-cell transcriptome atlas","volume":"86","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Infect"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/advs.202305592","article-title":"Single-cell sequencing reveals functional alterations in tuberculosis","volume":"11","author":"Lyu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv Sci (Weinh)"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cyto.2015.05.012","article-title":"Tim-3 pathway affects NK cell impairment in patients with active tuberculosis","volume":"76","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cytokine"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1054\/tube.2001.0309","article-title":"Reduced NK activity in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with\/without HIV infection: identifying the defective stage and studying the effect of interleukins on NK activity","volume":"81","author":"Nirmala","year":"2001","journal-title":"Tuberculosis (Edinb)"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1747972","article-title":"Distribution of granzyme-expressing NK cells in tuberculosis reflects subset and compartment-specific remodeling","volume":"17","author":"Li","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.175.10.6852","article-title":"Increased susceptibility to apoptosis of CD56dimCD16+ NK cells induces the enrichment of IFN-gamma-producing CD56bright cells in tuberculous pleurisy","volume":"175","author":"Schierloh","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.168.7.3451","article-title":"The NKp46 receptor contributes to NK cell lysis of mononuclear phagocytes infected with an intracellular bacterium","volume":"168","author":"Vankayalapati","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06097.x","article-title":"Reduced NK activity correlates with active disease in HIV- patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis","volume":"97","author":"Ratcliffe","year":"1994","journal-title":"Clin Exp Immunol"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0068864","article-title":"Natural killer cell cytokine response to M. bovis BCG is associated with inhibited proliferation, increased apoptosis and ultimate depletion of NKp44(+)CD56(bright) cells","volume":"8","author":"Portevin","year":"2013","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cellsig.2025.112247","article-title":"Immune escape through NKG2A upregulation in tuberculosis: Single-cell and functional evidence for therapeutic blockade","volume":"138","author":"Shi","year":"2026","journal-title":"Cell Signal"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2567.2005.02259.x","article-title":"NK cell activity in tuberculosis is associated with impaired CD11a and ICAM-1 expression: a regulatory role of monocytes in NK activation","volume":"116","author":"Schierloh","year":"2005","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1159\/000363321","article-title":"Natural killer cells: a coherent model for their functional role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection","volume":"7","author":"Esin","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Innate Immun"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tube.2016.02.001","article-title":"Impaired NK cells' activity and increased numbers of CD4 + CD25+ regulatory T cells in multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis patients","volume":"98","author":"Fan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Tuberculosis (Edinb)"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.it.2013.07.005","article-title":"Location and cellular stages of natural killer cell development","volume":"34","author":"Yu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Trends Immunol"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2567.2008.03027.x","article-title":"CD56bright natural killer (NK) cells: an important NK cell subset","volume":"126","author":"Poli","year":"2009","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2022.992723","article-title":"CD56-negative NK cells: Frequency in peripheral blood, expansion during HIV-1 infection, functional capacity, and KIR expression","volume":"13","author":"Cocker","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.22541\/au.160129293.31691961","article-title":"Immunological basis of early clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: the role of natural killer cells","volume":"204","author":"Abebe","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin Exp Immunol"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-immunol-020711-075005","article-title":"Controlling natural killer cell responses: integration of signals for activation and inhibition","volume":"31","author":"Long","year":"2013","journal-title":"Annu Rev Immunol"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/6437057","article-title":"Research progress on NK cell receptors and their signaling pathways","volume":"2020","author":"Chen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mediators Inflammation"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2009-01-201632","article-title":"Minimal requirement for induction of natural cytotoxicity and intersection of activation signals by inhibitory receptors","volume":"114","author":"Bryceson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intimm\/dxl071","article-title":"Constitutively polarized granules prime KHYG-1 NK cells","volume":"18","author":"Suck","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int Immunol"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.187.11.1753","article-title":"Control of lytic function by mitogen-activated protein kinase\/extracellular regulatory kinase 2 (ERK2) in a human natural killer cell line: identification of perforin and granzyme B mobilization by functional ERK2","volume":"187","author":"Wei","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41590-018-0265-1","article-title":"The IL-15-AKT-XBP1s signaling pathway contributes to effector functions and survival in human NK cells","volume":"20","author":"Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat Immunol"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/eji.1830230307","article-title":"A promoter element of the human serine esterase granzyme B gene controls specific transcription in activated T cells","volume":"23","author":"Haddad","year":"1993","journal-title":"Eur J Immunol"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.92.15.6930","article-title":"Identification of human granzyme B promoter regulatory elements interacting with activated T-cell-specific proteins: implication of Ikaros and CBF binding sites in promoter activation","volume":"92","author":"Wargnier","year":"1995","journal-title":"Proc Natl Acad Sci USA"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1074\/jbc.271.28.16485","article-title":"In vivo regulation of murine granzyme B gene transcription in activated primary T cells","volume":"271","author":"Babichuk","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Biol Chem"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.celrep.2017.06.071","article-title":"The transcription factor Tcf1 contributes to normal NK cell development and function by limiting the expression of granzymes","volume":"20","author":"Jeevan-Raj","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cell Rep"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cellimm.2014.05.013","article-title":"Glucocorticoids regulate natural killer cell function epigenetically","volume":"290","author":"Eddy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cell Immunol"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.176.7.4173","article-title":"A novel NF-kappaB binding site controls human granzyme B gene transcription","volume":"176","author":"Huang","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20070419","article-title":"The PP2A inhibitor SET regulates natural killer cell IFN-gamma production","volume":"204","author":"Trotta","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intimm\/dxl133","article-title":"Lipophilic statins suppress cytotoxicity by freshly isolated natural killer cells through modulation of granule exocytosis","volume":"19","author":"Tanaka","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int Immunol"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-691.x","article-title":"Proliferation of distinct human T cell subsets in response to live, killed or soluble extracts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Myco. avium","volume":"104","author":"Esin","year":"1996","journal-title":"Clin Exp Immunol"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ni1582","article-title":"Functions of natural killer cells","volume":"9","author":"Vivier","year":"2008","journal-title":"Nat Immunol"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2567.2004.01858.x","article-title":"Functional characterization of human natural killer cells responding to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Gu\u00e9rin","volume":"112","author":"Esin","year":"2004","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/intimm\/dxn073","article-title":"Human NK cells directly recognize Mycobacterium bovis via TLR2 and acquire the ability to kill monocyte-derived DC","volume":"20","author":"Marcenaro","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int Immunol"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/sji.12052","article-title":"Interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall components with the human natural killer cell receptors NKp44 and Toll-like receptor 2","volume":"77","author":"Esin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Scand J Immunol"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.00870-07","article-title":"Direct binding of human NK cell natural cytotoxicity receptor NKp44 to the surfaces of mycobacteria and other bacteria","volume":"76","author":"Esin","year":"2008","journal-title":"Infect Immun"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/ar2336","article-title":"The proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 modulate the repertoire of mature human natural killer cell receptors","volume":"9","author":"de Rham","year":"2007","journal-title":"Arthritis Res Ther"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/22221751.2019.1649097","article-title":"Mycobacterial mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan: a modulator bridging innate and adaptive immunity","volume":"8","author":"Zhou","year":"2019","journal-title":"Emerg Microbes Infect"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1210\/en.2008-1309","article-title":"Proliferation of uterine natural killer cells is induced by human chorionic gonadotropin and mediated via the mannose receptor","volume":"150","author":"Kane","year":"2009","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/mi.2011.3","article-title":"Apoptosis is an innate defense function of macrophages against Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"4","author":"Behar","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mucosal Immunol"},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2015.00508","article-title":"Mechanisms of control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by NK cells: Role of glutathione","volume":"6","author":"Allen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Front Immunol"},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1189\/jlb.4a0713-363rr","article-title":"NK cells kill mycobacteria directly by releasing perforin and granulysin","volume":"96","author":"Lu","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Leukoc Biol"},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.282.5386.121","article-title":"An antimicrobial activity of cytolytic T cells mediated by granulysin","volume":"282","author":"Stenger","year":"1998","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2017.10.004","article-title":"Granzyme B disrupts central metabolism and protein synthesis in bacteria to promote an immune cell death program","volume":"171","author":"Dotiwala","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1399-0039.2008.01218.x","article-title":"Biology and clinical relevance of granulysin","volume":"73","author":"Krensky","year":"2009","journal-title":"Tissue Antigens"},{"key":"B60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0105-2896.2010.00896.x","article-title":"Perforin: structure, function, and role in human immunopathology","volume":"235","author":"Voskoboinik","year":"2010","journal-title":"Immunol Rev"},{"key":"B61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"388","DOI":"10.1038\/nri3839","article-title":"Perforin and granzymes: function, dysfunction and human pathology","volume":"15","author":"Voskoboinik","year":"2015","journal-title":"Nat Rev Immunol"},{"key":"B62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00135.2005","article-title":"Interferon-gamma activates transcription of NADPH oxidase 1 gene and upregulates production of superoxide anion by human large intestinal epithelial cells","volume":"290","author":"Kuwano","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Cell Physiol"},{"key":"B63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1189\/jlb.0603252","article-title":"Interferon-gamma: an overview of signals, mechanisms and functions","volume":"75","author":"Schroder","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Leukoc Biol"},{"key":"B64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1189\/jlb.0611308","article-title":"Natural killer cell-produced IFN-\u03b3 and TNF-\u03b1 induce target cell cytolysis through up-regulation of ICAM-1","volume":"91","author":"Wang","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Leukoc Biol"},{"key":"B65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1006\/cimm.1994.1196","article-title":"Interleukin-12 (IL-12) augments cytolytic activity of natural killer cells toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected human monocytes","volume":"156","author":"Denis","year":"1994","journal-title":"Cell Immunol"},{"key":"B66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.177.6.1691","article-title":"Recognition and destruction of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-infected human monocytes","volume":"177","author":"Molloy","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.69.3.1755-1765.2001","article-title":"Human natural killer cells mediate killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv via granule-independent mechanisms","volume":"69","author":"Brill","year":"2001","journal-title":"Infect Immun"},{"key":"B68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.157.7.2909","article-title":"Involvement of Fas ligand and Fas-mediated pathway in the cytotoxicity of human natural killer cells","volume":"157","author":"Oshimi","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.160.11.5448","article-title":"Fas ligand-induced apoptosis of infected human macrophages reduces the viability of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"160","author":"Oddo","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/femsle\/fny040","article-title":"hsa-let-7b-5p facilitates Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival in THP-1 human macrophages by Fas downregulation","volume":"365","author":"Tripathi","year":"2018","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol Lett"},{"key":"B71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1023\/a:1020286305950","article-title":"Increased expression of Fas ligand on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected macrophages: a potential novel mechanism of immune evasion by Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"23","author":"Mustafa","year":"1999","journal-title":"Inflammation"},{"key":"B72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-3083.2001.01020.x","article-title":"Increased expression of fas ligand in human tuberculosis and leprosy lesions: a potential novel mechanism of immune evasion in mycobacterial infection","volume":"54","author":"Mustafa","year":"2001","journal-title":"Scand J Immunol"},{"key":"B73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.178.2.669","article-title":"CD40 expression by human monocytes: regulation by cytokines and activation of monocytes by the ligand for CD40","volume":"178","author":"Alderson","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2249.2004.02547.x","article-title":"CD40-CD154 interactions between macrophages and natural killer cells during sepsis are critical for macrophage activation and are not interferon gamma dependent","volume":"137","author":"Scott","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin Exp Immunol"},{"key":"B75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smim.2009.05.011","article-title":"Macrophage CD40 signaling: a pivotal regulator of disease protection and pathogenesis","volume":"21","author":"Suttles","year":"2009","journal-title":"Semin Immunol"},{"key":"B76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20071450","article-title":"Differential regulation of interleukin 12 and interleukin 23 production in human dendritic cells","volume":"205","author":"Gerosa","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.1701733","article-title":"Mycobacterium tuberculosis transfer RNA induces IL-12p70 via synergistic activation of pattern recognition receptors within a cell network","volume":"200","author":"Keegan","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/iai.62.12.5511-5518.1994","article-title":"Characterization of a 10- to 14-kilodalton protease-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra antigen that stimulates human gamma delta T cells","volume":"62","author":"Boom","year":"1994","journal-title":"Infect Immun"},{"key":"B79","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/jb.188.4.1364-1372.2006","article-title":"Characterization of a glutathione metabolic mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its resistance to glutathione and nitrosoglutathione","volume":"188","author":"Dayaram","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Bacteriol"},{"key":"B80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.175.7.4611","article-title":"Role of NK cell-activating receptors and their ligands in the lysis of mononuclear phagocytes infected with an intracellular bacterium","volume":"175","author":"Vankayalapati","year":"2005","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.181.12.8797","article-title":"Vimentin expressed on Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected human monocytes is involved in binding to the NKp46 receptor","volume":"177","author":"Garg","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/immu.200310004","article-title":"The interaction between NK cells and dendritic cells in bacterial infections results in rapid induction of NK cell activation and in the lysis of uninfected dendritic cells","volume":"33","author":"Ferlazzo","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eur J Immunol"},{"key":"B83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.172.1.130","article-title":"NK cells regulate CD8+ T cell effector function in response to an intracellular pathogen","volume":"172","author":"Vankayalapati","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.176.4.2610","article-title":"Human NK cells positively regulate gammadelta T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"176","author":"Zhang","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.180.3.1729","article-title":"NK cells lyse T regulatory cells that expand in response to an intracellular pathogen","volume":"180","author":"Roy","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4161\/viru.22586","article-title":"The role of dendritic cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection","volume":"3","author":"Mihret","year":"2012","journal-title":"Virulence"},{"key":"B87","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000323923","article-title":"The bidirectional crosstalk between human dendritic cells and natural killer cells","volume":"3","author":"Wehner","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Innate Immun"},{"key":"B88","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20010938","article-title":"Reciprocal activating interaction between natural killer cells and dendritic cells","volume":"195","author":"Gerosa","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B89","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20051474","article-title":"Natural killer cell behavior in lymph nodes revealed by static and real-time imaging","volume":"203","author":"Baj\u00e9noff","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B90","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.20011149","article-title":"Human dendritic cells activate resting natural killer (NK) cells and are recognized via the NKp30 receptor by activated NK cells","volume":"195","author":"Ferlazzo","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Exp Med"},{"key":"B91","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2567.2005.02256.x","article-title":"Putting the natural killer cell in its place","volume":"117","author":"O'Connor","year":"2006","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"B92","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/ni880","article-title":"Functional interactions between dendritic cells and NK cells during viral infection","volume":"4","author":"Andrews","year":"2003","journal-title":"Nat Immunol"},{"key":"B93","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.171.11.6039","article-title":"NK cells respond to pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but play a minimal role in protection","volume":"171","author":"Junqueira-Kipnis","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B94","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1182\/blood-2002-09-2876","article-title":"CD56bright natural killer cells are present in human lymph nodes and are activated by T cell-derived IL-2: a potential new link between adaptive and innate immunity","volume":"101","author":"Fehniger","year":"2003","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"B95","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1164\/rccm.200508-1294oc","article-title":"Regulatory T cells are expanded in blood and disease sites in patients with tuberculosis","volume":"173","author":"Guyot-Revol","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Respir Crit Care Med"},{"key":"B96","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2567.2011.03551.x","article-title":"Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells, immune stimulation and host defence against infection","volume":"136","author":"Rowe","year":"2012","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"B97","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4049\/jimmunol.178.5.2661","article-title":"Cutting edge: Regulatory T cells prevent efficient clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"178","author":"Kursar","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Immunol"},{"key":"B98","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0002833","article-title":"Effect of attenuation of Treg during BCG immunization on anti-mycobacterial Th1 responses and protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis","volume":"3","author":"Jaron","year":"2008","journal-title":"PloS One"},{"key":"B99","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11726","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-38766-7","article-title":"NK cell phenotypic profile during active TB in people living with HIV-evolution during TB treatment and implications for bacterial clearance and disease severity","volume":"13","author":"Maseko","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B100","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0257185","article-title":"Defective expansion and function of memory like natural killer cells in HIV+ individuals with latent tuberculosis infection","volume":"16","author":"Devalraju","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Immunology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1917564\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T08:39:01Z","timestamp":1789634341000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1917564\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"references-count":100,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1917564"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fimmu.2026.1917564","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-3224"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-3224","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"article-number":"1917564"}}