Natural Killer (NK) Cells

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Natural Killer (NK) Cells

NK cells kill cells they do not recognize (e.g. cancer cells, mutated cells, infected cells).
They act as “immigration officers” or “policeman” in your own body. Interrogating every cell that they come into contact with.
Beneficial effects from NK cells therapy include anti-cancer, boost immunity, reduction of allergies and dormant infections.

Mechanism of Action

NK cells kill cells they do not recognize with 3 different mechanisms: Apoptosis (cell shrink until it implodes into smaller pieces), Necrosis (cell rupture, bursting out all internal structures) and Pyroptosis (cell perforated with holes, leaking out all internal structures)

Apoptosis: Cell Shrinkage

Necrosis: Cell rupture

Pyroptosis: Pore formation, cell leakage

NK Cells use cell surface markers to initiate recognition. Healthy cells contain markers to inhibit NK cell killing. Infected/cancer cells do not have those markers to stop NK cell killing. Some may even contain markers that trigger NK cell killing. NK cells are also able to alert other immune cells, e.g. T cells and antigen presenting cells (APC), to the presence of “invaders”.