Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of white blood cell belonging to the lymphocyte family, similar to T and B cells. They are part of the innate immune system, meaning they provide a rapid, non-specific response to threats.
What are Natural Killer Cells?
NK cells are crucial for:
- Destroying infected and diseased cells: This includes cells infected by viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens, as well as cancerous cells. Cleveland Clinic
- Controlling tumors and microbial infections: They act as effector lymphocytes, limiting the spread of infections and tumors. Nature Immunology, PubMed
- Rapid response to threats: Unlike the adaptive immune system (T and B cells), NK cells don't require prior activation to kill target cells. Wikipedia, PubMed
Their function is analogous to cytotoxic T cells in the adaptive immune response, but NK cells act much more quickly. Wikipedia They are also sometimes referred to as NK cells or NK-LGL. [Reference 1] Their killing mechanism involves the release of cytotoxic molecules. PMC Recent research even suggests that fasting can improve their ability to fight cancer. MSKCC
They originate from a common progenitor cell with T and B cells. British Society for Immunology Genetically modified NK cells, like those expressing anti-CD19 CAR, are being explored for cancer treatment. NEJM
