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Related Concept Videos

Disorders of Leukocytes01:27

Disorders of Leukocytes

Leukocyte disorders can lead to either leukopenia, characterized by an abnormally low leukocyte count, or leukocytosis, marked by a very high leukocyte number.
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune 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...
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
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...
Structure and Function of Leukocytes01:21

Structure and Function of Leukocytes

An adult in good health typically has between 4,500 and 11,000 leukocytes, or white blood cells, per microliter of blood, which constitutes about 1% of the total blood volume. Unlike red blood cells, white blood cells contain a nucleus and other cellular organelles but do not have hemoglobin. Most white blood cells reside in connective tissues, particularly in lymphatic organs such as the lymph nodes, with only a small fraction present in circulating blood.
White blood cells protect the body...
Classification of Leukocytes01:30

Classification of Leukocytes

Leukocytes are classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of cytoplasmic granules. Granular leukocytes, which contain granules, belong to the myeloid lineage and are divided into three subtypes: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. These cells are roughly spherical and characterized by the granules in their cytoplasm.
Neutrophils are the most abundant type of granular leukocytes, comprising 50-70% of all leukocytes. They feature small, evenly distributed granules and a...

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Generation of Natural Killer Cells from Human Expanded Potential Stem Cells
06:53

Generation of Natural Killer Cells from Human Expanded Potential Stem Cells

Published on: January 13, 2023

Natural killer cell leukaemia.

Jamish Gandhi1

  • 1Hutt Hospital, General Surgery and Gynaecology, 1027 High Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt, 5011, New Zealand.

BMJ Case Reports
|September 3, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This case study details a rare natural killer cell leukemia diagnosis in a woman presenting with abdominal pain and sepsis. Despite initial chemotherapy response, the patient rapidly deteriorated and died.

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Natural Killer (NK) and CAR-NK Cell Expansion Method using Membrane Bound-IL-21-Modified B Cell Line

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Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • A 42-year-old woman presented with sepsis and abdominal pain, with initial concerns for hematological malignancy.
  • Diagnostic workup revealed splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, ascites, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of natural killer cell leukemia.
  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges and clinical course of this aggressive hematological malignancy.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging (ultrasound, CT), laboratory tests (blood counts, liver function, coagulation profile), and invasive procedures (bone marrow biopsy, liver biopsy, ascitic fluid analysis) were utilized.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed via flow cytometry of ascitic fluid, identifying natural killer cell leukemia.
  • Treatment involved cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, rituximab (CHOP-R) chemotherapy.

Main Results:

  • The patient initially responded to CHOP-R chemotherapy, with improvements in ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, and coagulation.
  • Despite initial response, the patient experienced rapid deterioration after the second chemotherapy cycle.
  • The patient was transitioned to comfort care and subsequently died.

Conclusions:

  • Natural killer cell leukemia is a rare and aggressive hematological malignancy.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial, but outcomes can be poor.
  • This case underscores the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach for unexplained sepsis and abdominal symptoms.