Natural Killer Cells

• Natural Killer Cells: Type of LYMPHOCYTE (WBC) that are able to attack a WIDE VARIETY of infected cells and tumors
• What are the 2 granules containing toxic substances produced by natural killer cells?

  Perforin and granzymes.
• Perforin: creates channels (perforations) on the cell membranes causing the target cell to burst
• Granzymes: protein digesting enzymes that target cells to undergo apoptosis
• Phagocytes are NEUTROPHILS and MACROPHAGES.
• Migrated macrophages: migrated monocytes from the blood
• Fixed monocytes: stand guard in specific tissues.
• Histiocytes: connective tissues
• Stellate reticuloendothelial cells or Kupffer cells: liver
• Alveolar macrophage: Lung
• Microglial cells: nervous system
• Tissue macrophages: in the spleen, lymph nodes and red bone marrow.