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natural killer (NK) cell

1st identified because of their ability to kill tumor cells in vitro; occurs through activation receptors that trigger release of perforin containing cytoplasmic granules. NK cells are different from T & B cells in that they do not express rearranged antigen receptors & are not directly involved in acquired immunity. Surface markers: CD56, CD16 NK cells home to tumors. Vaccinia virus infected NK cells engineered to replicate rapidly only in transformed cells home to ovarian tumor cells within 48 hours. Vaccinia virus killed 100% of tumor cells. [3]

Related

killer cell inhibitory receptor; killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor (KIR) killer cell lectin-like receptor C subfamily or NKG2 receptor

General

lymphocyte

References

  1. Brown MG et al. Vital involvement of a natural killer cell activation receptor in resistance to viral infection. Science 292:934-7 2001 PMID: 17382459
  2. Murasko DM & Berstein ED, Immunology of Aging, In: Principles of Geriatric Medicine, 4th ed,, Hazzard et al (eds), McGraw-Hill, NY, 1999, pg 99
  3. Thorne SH et al, Synergistic antitumor effects of immune cell-viral biotherapy. Science 2006; 311:1780 PMID: 16556847