Natural Killer Cells

Natural Killer Cells are white blood cells and one of the three types of lymphocytes. They are part of the innate immune system – the body's first line of defense against pathogens. Unlike T cells and B cells, which belong to the acquired immune system and respond only to specific identified threats, which may take several days, NK cells’ response is non-specific and occurs immediately when they detect certain cellular distress signals. NK cells are capable of attacking body cells infected with viruses or that have developed into cancer cells, as well as attacking various pathogens such as fungi, bacteria and parasites. When NK cells detect infection or a tumor, they bind to it and attack it using a mechanism similar to a microbiological machine gun – launching special enzymes that perforate the cell membrane thereby causing its death. In cancer research, cancer cells have been found to create a surrounding environment that suppress immune cells. A groundbreaking study by the Dangoor Center for  personalized Medicine has shown how to stop cancer cells from suppressing NK cells, which enables to harnessed
.NK cells to attacking cancer cells