Fig. 4

Interaction between NK cell and the TME. Schematic diagram depicting primary receptors expressed by NK cells and their corresponding ligands on tumor cells or cytokines in the TME. Activating stimulative receptors triggers an intracellular signaling cascade that activates NK cells and vice versa. The two factors dynamically modulate the behavioral pattern of NK cells, whose disequilibrium may lead to immune evasion or clearance. Abbreviations: NK cell, natural killer cell; TME, tumor microenvironment; Ecto-CRT, ecto-calreticulin; A2AR, A2a adenosine receptor; ACVR1, activin receptor type 1