NK/DC crosstalk in immunosurveillance: A broken relationship caused by WASP‐deficiency

Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a primary immunodeficiency, which is characterized by abnormal immune system functions caused by the lack of expression of WAS protein (WASp). A higher tumor susceptibility is observed in WAS patients; whether this is a direct consequence of impaired immunosurveillance due to WAS deficiency in immune cells is, however, an open question. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Catucci et al. Eur. J. Immunol. 2014. 44: 1039‐1045] shed light on the link between Was deficiency and immunosurveillance in a tumor‐prone mouse model and report a role for the impaired crosstalk between natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) in mediating this process. The potential mechanisms involved in WASp regulation of NK/DC‐mediated immunosurveillance are the focus of this Commentary.