The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Immune Surveillance

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Abstract
Natural killer cells are found in the peripheral blood of all normal persons and resemble large granular lymphocytes morphologically.1 , 2 Natural killer cells can be defined operationally as cells capable of spontaneous cytotoxic activity against a wide variety of both autologous and allogeneic target cells. Unlike T cells, natural killer cells can lyse these targets without any apparent previous sensitization and without the involvement of major histocompatibility antigens. Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that these cells are capable of immunologic memory. The majority of natural killer cells possess low-affinity receptors for the Fc portion of IgG and are therefore . . .