Supporting Cellular Surveillance
The immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate senescent, damaged, or abnormal cells declines with age. This reduced immune surveillance allows potentially harmful cells to persist, increasing the risk of dysfunction at the tissue level. Natural killer (NK) cells, a type of innate immune cell, are particularly important in identifying and destroying these compromised cells.
Quercetin has been shown to enhance the activity and maturation of NK cells. By upregulating the expression of ligands such as NKG2D on target cells, quercetin increases their susceptibility to NK cell-mediated clearance.
Additionally, quercetin influences gene expression in NK cells, promoting the production of cytokines like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), which is critical for coordinating effective immune responses. This dual role of supporting NK cell function and protecting the accuracy of target cell recognition makes quercetin a key player in maintaining immune surveillance. 3, 4