Skip Navigation

eCAM 2004 1(1):17-27; doi:10.1093/ecam/neh014
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in eCAM
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Takeda, K.
Right arrow Articles by Okumura, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Takeda, K.
Right arrow Articles by Okumura, K.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?


© Oxford University Press, 2004.

Review

CAM and NK Cells

Kazuyoshi Takeda and Ko Okumura

Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

It is believed that tumor development, outgrowth and metastasis are under the surveillance of the immune system. Although both innate and acquired immune systems play roles, innate immunity is the spearhead against tumors. Recent studies have revealed the critical role of natural killer (NK) cells in immune surveillance and that NK cell activity is considerably influenced by various agents, such as environmental factors, stress, foods and drugs. Some of these NK cell stimulants have been used in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) since ancient times. Therefore, the value of CAM should be re-evaluated from this point of view. In this review, we overview the intimate correlation between NK cell functions and CAM agents, and discuss possible underlying mechanisms mediating this. In particular, neuro-immune crosstalk and receptors for CAM agents are the most important and interesting candidates for such mechanisms.

Keywords: ß-glucan – lectin – NK cell receptor – nerve-immune crosstalk – tumor

For reprints and all correspondence: Kazuyoshi Takeda, Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bukyou-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. E-mail: ktakeda{at}med.juntendo.ac.jp


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?

Related articles in eCAM:

Commentary on CAM and NK Cells by Kazuyoshi Takeda and Ko Okumura
Edwin L. Cooper
eCAM 2004 1: 29-34. [Extract] [FREE Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
Y. Liu, Y. Fukuwatari, K. Okumura, K. Takeda, K.-i. Ishibashi, M. Furukawa, N. Ohno, K. Mori, M. Gao, and M. Motoi
Immunomodulating Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in Mice and in Human Volunteers
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 1, 2008; 5(2): 205 - 219.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
K. Kawakita, T. Shichidou, E. Inoue, T. Nabeta, H. Kitakoji, S. Aizawa, A. Nishida, N. Yamaguchi, N. Takahashi, E. Sumiya, et al.
Do Japanese Style Acupuncture and Moxibustion Reduce Symptoms of the Common Cold?
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 11, 2007; (2007) nem055v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
M. Hernandez-Reif, G. Shor-Posner, J. Baez, S. Soto, R. Mendoza, R. Castillo, N. Quintero, E. Perez, and G. Zhang
Dominican Children with HIV not Receiving Antiretrovirals: Massage Therapy Influences their Behavior and Development
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., May 17, 2007; (2007) nem032v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
E. L. Cooper
Role of TOLL-like Receptors in Adjuvant-Augmented Immune Therapies by T. Seya.
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., March 1, 2006; 3(1): 133 - 137.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
J. A. Olalde Rangel, M. Magarici, F. Amendola, and O. del Castillo
The Systemic Theory of Living Systems. Part IV: Systemic Medicine--The Praxis
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., December 1, 2005; 2(4): 429 - 439.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
E. L. Cooper
Commentary on CAM and NK Cells by Kazuyoshi Takeda and Ko Okumura
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 1, 2004; 1(1): 29 - 34.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.