Natural Killer in 1 min

Natural Killers: The Guardians of the Immune System

Understanding Natural Killer Cells

• Natural killers are a type of innate lymphoid cell that resemble cytotoxic T cells but lack specificity.

• Their primary function is to eliminate infected, stressed, or cancerous cells in the body.

• When cells become infected with a virus, they release molecules that attract natural killer cells to the affected tissue.

Mechanism of Action

• Upon arrival at the site of infection, natural killer cells begin to interact with nearby cells to detect irregularities in membrane protein expression.

• Infected or genetically malfunctioning cells exhibit changes in their membrane protein levels; for instance, the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) decreases in stressed cells.