NK Cells- How they function in the immune system.

NK cells play a highly important role in the killing of tumors and cells infected by viruses.

NK cells are certainly highly important cells in your immune system, and very important in the fight against cancer. The cells kill by releasing a blast of proteins (injecting the suspect cell with cytotoxins) that cause the target cell to die by apoptosis.

NK cells are known as “natural killers” because they don't need to react to specific antigens, they just need to recognize that a cell is foreign, and it does not belong.

However, NK cells must receive an activating message, such as signals from cytokines in order to do their work.

View the highly informative video below: