Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,506,457,886 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

natural killer cell

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
natural killer cell
n.
Abbr. NK cell A killer cell that is activated by double-stranded RNA and fights off viral infections and tumors.

Natural killer (NK) cell
A lymphocyte that acts as a primary immune defense against infection.

natural killer cell (NK cell)
Etymology: L, natura + ME, kullen, to kill, cella, storeroom
a lymphocyte that is capable of binding to and killing virus-infected cells and some tumor cells by releasing cytotoxins. It is found in the bone marrow and spleen. Its cytotoxic activity is not antibody-dependent but is augmented by interferon. Compare killer cell, killer T cells. See also null cell.


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in
 
Medical browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Medical Dictionary
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.