(NA-tchah-ruhl KILL-er sell) White blood cell that can recognize microbes and tumor cells as ‘foreign' and destroy them, without requiring prior exposure to them
Large granular lympohocytes lacking T and B lymphocyte antigen receptor gene arrangement. Exert cytotoxic effects with undefined specificity but without being major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted.
Bone marrow-derived, mononuclear white blood cells (large granular lymphocytes) that are able to kill invading microorganisms without activation by cells of the immune system. They are, therefore, part of the innate immune system. They are specialized in killing virus-infected cells and cells transformed to develop cancer.
lymphoid cells that recognize and kills tumor and virus-infected cells in culture.
a lymphocyte that naturally attacks and kills tumor cells and protects against a wide variety of infectious organisms. They require no stimulation or need to recognize a specific antigen to function.
a type of cell which is formed by lymphoid tissue. It kills cells which are infected with pathogens.
Type of white blood cell important in killing tumor cells.
A cytotoxic cell of the immune system that can recognize and destroy a large variety of virally infected cells and tumor cells.
A type of lymphocyte that directly kills invading foreign cells.
A type of cytotoxic leukocyte which attacks and kills virus-infected or neoplastic (cancerous) cells independent of antibody coating or MHC restriction; it may be derived from lymphocytes or monocytes.
Killing lymphocyte that is neither a B cell or a T cell (null cell).
A lymphocyte present in nonimmunized individuals that exhibits independent cytolytic activity against tumor cells; also called cytotoxic T cells.
A type of lymphocyte. Like cytotoxic T cells, NK cells attack and kill tumor cells and protect against a wide variety of infectious microbes. They are "natural" killers because they do not need additional stimulation or to recognize a specific antigen in order to attack and kill. Persons with immunodeficiencies such as those caused by HIV infection have a decrease in natural killer cell activity.
A lymphocyte which, unlike other lymphocytes, does not require specific activation by foreign antigen. They are considered to play a "front line" role in controlling infection, curbing infection until a specific, coordinated immune response can be mounted.
a type of lymphocyte that attacks and kills tumor cells and cells infected with microorganisms. Unlike cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, NK cells are nonspecific and attack infected cells without regard to specific antigens or MHC receptor configuration.
A type of white blood cell that can destroy certain cancer cells and germs.
a type of LYMPHOCYTE that attacks and destroys foreign, VIRUS-infected and cancerous cells. NK cells are not targeted at specific ANTIGENS the way CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES are. They are part of the innate rather than the acquired immune response (see IMMUNE SYSTEM).
The cell of the innate response that recognizes and then kills abnormal cells — for example, infected cells or tumor cells that lack cell-surface majorhistocompatibility- complex class I molecules.
A type of white blood cell that attacks tumor cells and infected body cells by binding to them and releasing lethal chemicals. Natural killer cells are thought to play a key role in cancer prevention by killing abnormal cells before they multiply and grow.
A cell type of the immune system that destroys tumor cells and cells infected with some types of organisms.
a lymphocyte that kills targets expressing low levels of MHC molecules such as certain tumour cells
A specialized lymphocyte that recognizes and destroys foreign cells or infected host cells in a nonspecific manner.
NK cell. A type of white blood cell that contains granules with enzymes that can kill tumor cells or microbial cells. Also called a large granular lymphocyte.
A natural killer cell is a specific type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) which kills 'target" (tumor or virus-infected) cells without involving antibodies. The mechanism of their killing activity is not yet clear, but interferon seems to play a role.
Natural killer (NK) cells are a form of cytotoxic lymphocyte which constitute a major component of the innate immune system. NK cells play a major role in the host-rejection of both tumours and virally infected cells. They were named "natural killer" because of the initial notion that they do not require activation in order to kill cells which are "missing self" recognition ("missing-self" recognition is a term used to describe cells with low levels of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I cell surface marker molecules — a situation which could arise due to viral infection, or in tumors under strong selection pressure of killer T cells).
