Natural killer cells Notes: Definitions & Explanations PDF | Download eBooks
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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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