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
Examples of natural killer cell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These compounds increase natural killer cell activity, enhancing immune function after forest exposure.
—
Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
Amino acids regulate the activation of white blood cells like lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages, which protect your body from getting sick and fight infection.29
Chicken provides zinc, selenium, and B vitamins, which are also necessary for immune response.3
13.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 Dec. 2024
Multiple immune actors also provide protection, including antibodies, T cells, and natural killer cells.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024
Remarkably, the activity of natural killer cells returns to baseline levels after one night of normal sleep.
—Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Starting in the 1980s, for example, researchers discovered that a type of leukocyte called a natural killer cell is abundant on the uterine side of the maternal-fetal interface.
—Adrian Erlebacher, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2017
Exercise as a family Research shows that exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in adults—and regular activity can benefit kids in the same way, says Ranjit Chandra, M.D., a pediatric immunologist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
—Sandra Gordon, Parents, 28 June 2023
Presumably uterine natural killer cells produce substances that promote the loss of the original maternal cells that line the arteries, thus facilitating the subsequent takeover of these vessels by placental cells.
—Adrian Erlebacher, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2017
And our immune system is built out of a huge array, a big zoo of different cell types: natural killer cells and T-cells and B-cells and all of those different cell types that are interacting with each other.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023
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Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025
Amino acids regulate the activation of white blood cells like lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages, which protect your body from getting sick and fight infection.29
Chicken provides zinc, selenium, and B vitamins, which are also necessary for immune response.3
13.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 Dec. 2024
Multiple immune actors also provide protection, including antibodies, T cells, and natural killer cells.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024
Remarkably, the activity of natural killer cells returns to baseline levels after one night of normal sleep.
—Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Starting in the 1980s, for example, researchers discovered that a type of leukocyte called a natural killer cell is abundant on the uterine side of the maternal-fetal interface.
—Adrian Erlebacher, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2017
Exercise as a family Research shows that exercise increases the number of natural killer cells in adults—and regular activity can benefit kids in the same way, says Ranjit Chandra, M.D., a pediatric immunologist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland.
—Sandra Gordon, Parents, 28 June 2023
Presumably uterine natural killer cells produce substances that promote the loss of the original maternal cells that line the arteries, thus facilitating the subsequent takeover of these vessels by placental cells.
—Adrian Erlebacher, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2017
And our immune system is built out of a huge array, a big zoo of different cell types: natural killer cells and T-cells and B-cells and all of those different cell types that are interacting with each other.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Natural killer cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20killer%20cell. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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