Natural Killer (NK) cells were initially named based on the observation that they had cytolytic function in the absence of any specific kind of immunization. NK cells can release a bounty of cytokines and chemokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-3, IL-10, GM-CSF, G-CSF, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, XCL1, and CXCL8. Type I IFNs, IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 are all potent activators of NK cells. NK cells are a vital arm of innate immunity and participate in surveillance against viral infection and tumor cells.
View our: Innate Immunity Pathways
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