Encyclopedia > Natural killer cell

  Article Content

Natural killer cell

Natural killer cells (NK) are a type of nonspecific immune defense. These cells do not destroy the attacking microorganisms directly; they attack infected cells and cells that appear that they might cause cancer.

NK cells are not phagocytic; they weaken the target cell's plasma membrane, causing water and ions to diffuse into the cell and expanding it. Under this large pressure, the target cell lyses[?].

See also:



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Kings Park, New York

... km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.21% water. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 16,146 people, 5,480 households, and 4,197 ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 40.3 ms