Natural Killer Cell Phenotypic Changes and Activating Receptor Loss Posttrauma
Authors' conclusion
This pattern suggests a widespread functional shift in NK cells activated by severe trauma away from the expression of receptors involved in recognizing stressed or "damaged self" cells.
Study context
- Population
- Adult trauma and nontrauma patients
- Participants
- 137 vs 45
- Exposure
- Trauma vs nontrauma patients
- Trauman = 137
- Nontrauman = 45reference
- Outcome
- NK cell phenotypic maturation (CD16, CD56, CD57) and activating (NKP30, NKP46, NKG2D) and inhibiting (KIR2DL1, KIR2DL2) receptors by flow cytometry
- Follow-up
- Within 24 hours of injury
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- After trauma, peripheral natural killer (NK) cells less cytokine-dominant (CD56bright), more mature and cytotoxic (CD56dim, CD16+)
- In severely injured patients, no expected increase in activating receptor expression, particularly those sensing danger motifs on injured and stressed cells
- Cytotoxic NK cells lacking NKP30, NKP46 and NKG2D significantly more prevalent in severely injured patients
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Natural Killer Cell Phenotypic Changes and Activating Receptor Loss Posttrauma. Ann Surg. Published 10 August 2026. doi:10.
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