What is the main role of NK cells in the immune response?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the specific function of NK cells as part of the immune response, particularly what they are primarily responsible for among the given options.
Answer
Control tumors and microbial infections, limiting spread and tissue damage.
The main role of NK cells in the immune response is to control tumors and microbial infections by limiting their spread and subsequent tissue damage.
Answer for screen readers
The main role of NK cells in the immune response is to control tumors and microbial infections by limiting their spread and subsequent tissue damage.
More Information
Natural Killer (NK) cells are a vital component of the innate immune system, providing rapid response to virally-infected and cancer cells. They do this by directly killing the infectious or cancerous cells and helping to prevent the infection or cancer from spreading. They also play important roles in immune regulation.
Tips
One common mistake is assuming NK cells are part of the adaptive immune system due to their lymphocyte nature, but they are actually part of the innate immune system.
Sources
- Natural killer cell - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Functions of natural killer cells | Nature Immunology - nature.com
- Natural Killer Cells | British Society for Immunology - immunology.org
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