Atlas One · Host Biology · Scale 04 — Cellular

Natural Killer Cell

Innate lymphocyte (~12 µm) that kills stressed, infected, or malignant cells without prior antigen sensitisation. Missing-self recognition (KIR inhibition by MHC-I) and NKG2D activation distinguish targets. Perforin-granzyme B and FasL mediate cytotoxicity.

Also known as: NK cell, natural killer lymphocyte, CD56+ CD3- lymphocyte, large granular lymphocyte

Scale 04 — CellularScale
draftStatus
2026-06-05Last Reviewed
This is an auto-generated stub page built from atlas entry frontmatter. A richer hand-crafted page is planned. See the atlas source for the full entry including detailed body sections.
natural-killer-cell

Natural Killer Cell

Innate lymphocyte (~12 µm) that kills stressed, infected, or malignant cells without prior antigen sensitisation. Missing-self recognition (KIR inhibition by MHC-I) and NKG2D activation distinguish targets. Perforin-granzyme B and FasL mediate cytotoxicity.

Entry Metadata

FieldValue
IDnatural-killer-cell
NameNatural Killer Cell
Statusdraft
Last reviewed2026-06-05
Atlas01-human
Scale04-cellular

Cross-Atlas Connections

part-ofImmune System targetsHepatocyte modulatesDendritic Cell modulatesMacrophage modulatesB Cell modulatesT Helper Cell part-ofHuman Body part-ofSpleen connects-toPerforin

Sources