Preface

Chapter 9 **A New Method to Determine Natural Killer Cell Activity**

Matsuzaki, Kei Yoshiotme and Takemi Otsuki

Yasumitsu Nishimura, Naoko Kumagai-Takei, Suni Lee, Hidenori

**Without Target Cells 181**

**VI** Contents

As a result of collective work, this book addresses in a clear and comprehensive way for readers and through as many sensuous details as possible the most and various fundamental aspects of natural killer (NK) cells, as well as their clinical applications in cancer immunotherapy. It consists of nine chapters.

The introductory chapter provides a general overview on NK cells. It is mainly devoted for a pedagogic and academic context.

Chapter 2 is mainly focused on the description of mechanisms of inhibition and activation of NK cells, the mechanisms of immune evasion by tumors, and NK cell–based cancer immunotherapy.

Chapter 3 specifically explores the immunobiological and functional aspects of NK cells, especial‐ ly in tumor immune surveillance.

Chapter 4 describes the substantial roles of NK cells in tumor immune surveillance and their ap‐ plications for cancer immunotherapy.

The main purpose of Chapter 5 is to describe alterations in the expression of NK cell receptors, particularly in cancer patients, which could be potential therapeutic targets.

Chapter 6 focuses more specifically on the therapeutic applications of NK cells. It first addresses the fundamental aspects of such cells, in particular the various receptors, before treating their therapeutic use.

In addition to the description of NK cell immunobiology and functions, as well as the induction of memory-like NK cells and their education, Chapter 7 aims to review the present state of donor NK cell therapy during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and its future direction.

Chapter 8 focuses on the impacts of carbon nanotubes on NK cell immune effector functions.

Chapter 9 provides a simple method for statistically evaluating the activity of NK cells in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

My great desire is that this book will serve as an invaluable resource and pedagogical support for clinicians, researchers, basic scientists, and immunology and immunopathology lecturers, as well as for students in biology and medicine, especially the ones with an advanced understand‐ ing of immunology.

I would like to take this opportunity to kindly thank all collaborators who contributed in this book. I would also like to address a special word of thanks to Maja Bozicevic, Publishing Process Manager, and all the team of InTechOpen Publishing House, for their trust, their patience, and their help in making this book.

> **Prof. Mourad Aribi** Laboratory of Applied Molecular Biology and Immunology BIOMOLIM, W0414100 University of Tlemcen, Algeria

**Provisional chapter**
