Natural killer cells Notes: Definitions & Explanations PDF | Download eBooks
Study Natural killer cells lecture notes PDF with biology definitions and explanation to study What are Natural killer cells?. Study natural killer cells explanation with biology terms to review biology course for online degree programs.
Natural killer cells Definition:
Natural killer cells circulate through the body and detect the abnormal array of surface proteins characteristic of some virus-infected and cancerous cells.
Campbell Biology by J.B. Reece, L.A. Urry, M.L. Cain, S.A. Wasserman, P.V. Minorsky, R.B. Jackson
Natural killer cells Notes:
Natural killer cells, also abbreviated to NK cells, are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte that are important to the innate immune system. The role NK cells play is similar to that of cytotoxic T cells in the vertebrate adaptive immune response. NK cells provide quick responses to virus-infected cells, acting at around 3 days after infection, and respond to tumor formation. Nk cells have the ability to recognize stressed cells in the absence of antibodies and MHC, allowing for a much faster immune reaction Natural killer cells do not engulf stricken cells. Instead, they release chemicals that lead to cell death, inhibiting further spread of the virus or cancer.
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