Natural Killer Cells

Maria Terranova’s journey with NK cell treatment.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of lymphocyte, a white blood cell, that plays a critical role in the innate immune system's response to infections and cancer. Here are some key functions of natural killer cells:

  • Detecting abnormal cells: NK cells can recognize and distinguish between normal cells and abnormal cells, such as infected cells or cancer cells and eliminating potentially harmful cells early on, thus preventing the spread of infections and the development of cancer.

  • Inducing cell death (Cytotoxicity): Once NK cells identify a target cell as abnormal, they release toxic proteins, such as perforin and granzymes. These substances induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the target cell, effectively destroying it.

  • Immune Responses: NK cells secrete cytokines, which are signaling molecules that help regulate immune responses. By doing this, they can influence the activity of other immune cells, such as dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, through direct cell-to-cell contact and cytokine secretion.

Natural killer cells have various potential uses in medicine due to their unique properties and functions in the immune system. Some of the key applications of NK cells in medicine include:

  1. Cancer Immunotherapy

    1. NK cells can recognize and kill tumor cells without prior sensitization.

    2. Strategies to enhance NK cell activity, such as cytokine stimulation, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and blockade of inhibitory receptors improve their effectiveness in targeting cancer cells.

  2. Infections:

    1. NK cells are important in the control of infections by recognizing and eliminating infected cells.

    2. Help regulate immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance.

In summary, natural killer cells play a multifaceted role in the immune system, acting as frontline defenders against infections and cancer while also helping to regulate immune responses and maintain immune balance. Their ability to recognize and eliminate abnormal cells makes them critical components of both innate and adaptive immunity.

Overall, NK cells hold great promise for various medical applications, ranging from cancer therapy and infectious diseases to autoimmune disorders and transplantation medicine.

Contact us today and start planning your next visit.

Contact us today and start planning your next visit.