Innate Cells Population: NK Cells

A type of immune cell that kills infected or cancerous cells.

Contain perforin and granzyme, crucial for cell killing.

Creates pores in target cell membranes allowing granzyme to enter.

A protease that induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the target cell.

Receptors preventing NK cells from attacking healthy cells.

The precursor cell that gives rise to NK cells.

Precursor cell for many immune cell types (not NK cells).

Programmed cell death, crucial in removing damaged cells.

A series of events where kinases add phosphates to proteins, activating them.

An enzyme that adds a phosphate group to another molecule.

NK cells are suppressed when inhibitory receptors bind MHC class I molecules, causing them to not attack.

Proteins expressed on almost all nucleated cells, except erythrocytes, a key part of the NK cell inhibition mechanism.

NK cell activation happens when the target cell lacks MHC class I or has many activating receptor ligands.

The human equivalent of MHC molecules, vital for immune response and pregnancy.

Stress-induced proteins similar to MHC class I, exposed on stressed or neoplastic cells - triggers NK cell attack.

Chemical messengers like IL-2 regulating NK cell function, produced by activated immune cells.

Cytokine crucial for maintaining and proliferating NK cells.

Pattern Recognition Receptors; abundant receptors on immune cells recognizing various molecules (e.g., pathogens).

Receptors on immune cells that bind to cytokines and chemokines, which are signaling molecules.

Molecules on immune cells that allow them to adhere to tissues during inflammation and extravasation.

Receptors on immune cells that can be modulated by hormones, influencing immune response.

Pieces of antibodies that help receptors bind and initiate certain immune responses.

Receptors that recognize lipid molecules (e.g., damaged cells, bacteria), triggering immune responses.

Receptors recognizing sugars on microbes, fungi, and stressed cells.

Receptors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).

The process where immune cells engulf and destroy pathogens.

The vesicle formed by the cell membrane when engulfing a particle.

Inhibits viral proliferation and replication, particularly influenza viruses.

Hormones that regulate immune cell activation/inhibition and act as alarm signals by binding to receptors.

Cytokine family members that cause chemoattraction (cellular movement).

Proteins that receive and trigger responses to cytokine signals.

Immune system receptors that appear only when needed & in reaction to a cytokine or similar signal

Immune system receptors that are always present

Molecules that enable communication between immune cells and cells to determine self from non-self, allowing communication between immune cells.

Molecules on the surface of cells that can activate lymphocytes, often in conjunction with other signals

A missense mutation in the IRAK gene, disrupting the common intracellular pathway for IL1 and TLR signals.

Recognition of pathogens by Toll-like receptors initiating a cascade of responses to infections.

Cells produce cytokines, small signaling proteins, in response to pathogen detection for positive feedback and inflammatory response.

Triggers interferon type 1 production and MHC molecule expression (increased antigen presentation).

The process of engulfing and digesting pathogens, increasing with pathogen detection.

Macrophages produce cytokines to further recruit and activate NK and T cells.

TLR and scavenger receptor recognition increase dendritic cell maturation, leading to improved antigen presentation in lymphoid organs.

NK and T cells are activated by cytokines secreted by macrophages.

The cell communication cytokine is produced by NK and T cells and promotes dendritic cell activity in the cell communication and immune response

Small signaling molecules that regulate immune responses, acting as messengers for both innate and adaptive immunity.

Regulate immune cell production, promote immune cell movement (extravasation), block pathogen spread, and inhibit viral replication.

Cytokines need specific receptors to initiate their actions, preventing broader activation and tissue damage.

A specific family of cytokines with antiviral and anti-cancer functions.

Cytokines that primarily work between white blood cells (leukocytes).

A cytokine that causes tumor cell death and impacts blood vessel function.

Cytokines that regulate production and differentiation of immune cells in the bone marrow and tissues.

Cytokine having anti-inflammatory properties, often produced by regulatory immune cells.

Cytokines are very small (17-20 kDa), requiring caution during experimentation, particularly in Western Blotting.