Natural killer (NK) Cell Activation Assays

Natural killer (NK) cell activity is a key driver of immune surveillance and cytotoxic responses. Evaluating NK cell activation is critical across disease areas, as enhancing NK function can be beneficial in oncology (e.g. improving tumor cell clearance), while reducing or modulating activity may be important in autoimmune or inflammatory conditions to limit tissue damage.

This assay uses human primary immune cells to assess NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and activation in response to therapeutic compounds.

• Modality agnostic: Compatible with both biologics and small molecules.
• Flexible formats (PBMC or isolated NK cells with target cells) for context-specific or focused assessment.
• Direct measurement of target cell lysis ensures high specificity of functional readouts.
• Option to include phenotypic markers (e.g. CD107a) for deeper insight into NK cell activation.

• Target cell lysis quantified using fluorescence-based assays
• Flow cytometry used to assess CD107a expression as a marker of NK cell degranulation
• Cytokine stimulation (e.g. IFN-α, IL-2) enhances NK-mediated cytotoxicity and activation
• Data provide quantitative insight into both functional killing capacity and activation state

This assay enables focused evaluation of NK cell cytotoxic function and activation dynamics in a controlled in vitro system.

By linking functional killing with phenotypic activation markers, it supports clear characterization of compound effects on innate immune effector responses, informing development strategies in oncology and immune-mediated diseases.