Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Selective Harvesting of Marginating-hepatic Leukocytes
Published on: July 21, 2016
Natural killer cells in connective tissue disorders
Abstract:
NK cells may be important in the elimination of cells infected by virus, in the regulation of antibody production, and in tissue destruction. The significance of NK cells in rheumatic disorders is unknown, but NK cells and NK-like cells have been found in the peripheral blood and synovial tissues of patients with autoimmune disease. In particular, defects in NK cell activity have been reported in SLE, RA, PSS and SS. Of these diseases, SLE appears to be the best characterized with obvious abnormalities in NK cell numbers, impaired cytotoxicity of individual NK cells, decreased release of cytotoxic factors, deranged IFN modulation of the NK cell, and associated abnormalities in the IL-2 system. The association of these abnormalities with the underlying disease process is currently under investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Structure and Function of Leukocytes
White blood cells protect the body...
Lymphoid Cells and Tissues
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
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 Phagocytes
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
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...

