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Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response01:28

Cells of the Innate Immune Response

The innate immune response is an immediate and non-specific response against pathogens, acting swiftly to prevent the spread of infections. The primary cells involved in this response are phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A DNA/Ki67-Based Flow Cytometry Assay for Cell Cycle Analysis of Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cells in Vaccinated Mice
09:17

A DNA/Ki67-Based Flow Cytometry Assay for Cell Cycle Analysis of Antigen-Specific CD8 T Cells in Vaccinated Mice

Published on: January 5, 2021

NK cell development, homeostasis and function: parallels with CD8⁺ T cells.

Joseph C Sun1, Lewis L Lanier

  • 1Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.

Nature Reviews. Immunology
|August 27, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Natural killer (NK) cells, traditionally innate immune cells, show adaptive immune system traits. This review details NK cell development, function, and memory, comparing them to cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that eliminate infected or stressed host cells.
  • Historically classified within the innate immune system.
  • Emerging evidence suggests NK cells share characteristics with adaptive immune cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the developmental stages and lifetime progression of NK cells.
  • To compare NK cells with cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells.
  • To highlight adaptive immune-like features of NK cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and research findings.
  • Comparative analysis of NK cells and CD8(+) T cells.
  • Discussion of developmental education, receptor specificity, clonal expansion, and memory formation.

Main Results:

  • NK cells exhibit developmental education, similar to B and T cells.
  • NK cells possess antigen-specific receptors.
  • Evidence supports NK cell clonal expansion and the generation of long-lived memory cells.

Conclusions:

  • NK cells display characteristics previously attributed only to the adaptive immune system.
  • NK cells represent a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity.
  • Further research into NK cell biology can inform therapeutic strategies.