Natural Killer Cells

Natural Killer (NK) cells are a type of immune cell that help protect the body by detecting and destroying abnormal or infected cells, such as cancer cells or virus-infected cells. Unlike other immune cells that need to recognize specific warnings, NK cells can act quickly and respond to cells that appear suspicious, even without prior exposure. They do this by using special receptors to identify cells lacking normal markers or showing signs of stress. NK cells play a crucial role in the body's first line of defense, helping keep us healthy by eliminating potentially harmful cells early on.