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Natural Killer Cells definitions

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  • Natural Killer Cells
    Innate lymphocytes that eliminate infected host cells by detecting abnormal surface patterns without antigen specificity.
  • Innate Immunity
    Immediate, non-specific defense mechanism involving cells that do not require prior exposure to pathogens.
  • Adaptive Immunity
    Defense system involving lymphocytes that recognize specific antigens and provide long-lasting protection.
  • Lymphocytes
    White blood cells including NKs, T cells, and B cells, each with distinct roles in immune responses.
  • Antigen
    Molecule or structure on pathogens or infected cells recognized by immune components, triggering a response.
  • MHC Class I
    Surface proteins on healthy cells that present internal peptides; their absence signals abnormality to immune cells.
  • Apoptosis
    Programmed cell death process induced by immune cells to eliminate infected or abnormal host cells.
  • Perforin
    Protein released by NKs that forms pores in target cell membranes, facilitating entry of destructive enzymes.
  • Proteases
    Enzymes in NK cell granules that degrade proteins within target cells, promoting cell death.
  • Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity
    Mechanism where immune cells recognize antibody-coated targets and induce their destruction.
  • Fc Region
    Constant portion of an antibody recognized by NKs, enabling them to bind and kill marked cells.
  • IgG
    Antibody class that binds antigens on infected cells, marking them for immune cell recognition.
  • Death Packages
    Granules released by NKs containing molecules like perforin and proteases to induce apoptosis.
  • Antigen Presentation
    Display of pathogen-derived peptides on cell surfaces, often disrupted by viruses to evade immunity.