natural killer cell

noun

: a large granular lymphocyte capable especially of destroying tumor cells or virally-infected cells without prior exposure to the target cell and without having it presented with or marked by a histocompatibility antigen

called also NK cell

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Some of these therapies, such as natural killer cell programs, focus on equipping a patient’s own immune system to identify and destroy infected cells. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2023 These alleles, of which several encode unique or strong ligands for natural killer cell receptors, now represent more than half the HLA alleles of modern Eurasians and also appear to have been later introduced into Africans. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 26 Aug. 2011 Evergreen trees are great producers of phytoncide, a chemical that increases natural killer cell activity, Hall said. Megan Marples, CNN, 8 Dec. 2021 Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN): Formerly called natural killer cell leukemia/lymphoma, per the LLS, BPDCN is a rare combination of leukemia and lymphoma. Barbara Brody, Health.com, 30 Sep. 2021 That's because touching increases the natural killer cells that help us fight off illnesses, said Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. Lz Granderson, ajc, 16 Apr. 2020 Specifically, exercise helps to recruit highly specialized immune cells—such as natural killer cells and T cells—find pathogens (like viruses) and wipe them out. Mallory Creveling, Health.com, 16 Apr. 2020 March 26, 2020 That’s because touching increases the natural killer cells that help us fight off illnesses, said Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2020 The innate immune system, composed of white blood cells such as macrophages, natural killer cells and neutrophils, was supposed to have no such memory. Jop De Vrieze, Science | AAAS, 23 Mar. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'natural killer cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of natural killer cell was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near natural killer cell

Cite this Entry

“Natural killer cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20killer%20cell. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

natural killer cell

noun
: a large granular lymphocyte capable especially of destroying tumor cells or virally infected cells without prior exposure to the target cell and without having it presented with or marked by a histocompatibility antigen

called also NK cell

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