Fig. 8: Schematic demonstration of in-cell killing regulated by CD44.
From: Cell-in-cell structure mediates in-cell killing suppressed by CD44
When CD44 is expressed at low level (upper panel), tumor cells express low level of RhoA and high level of Rac1, N-cadherin, and β-catenin, and are therefore more adhesive and deformable to internalize NK cells for CICs-mediated in-cell killing; whereas, when CD44 is expressed at high level (lower panel), leading to RhoA upregulation and the downregulation of Rac1, N-cadherin and β-catenin as well, tumor cells become less adhesive and stiffer which inhibits NK cell internalization and the subsequent in-cell killing.
