What markers do NK cells express?

Natural Killer (NK) cells are a type of lymphocyte that play a crucial role in the innate immune response, particularly in the elimination of virus-infected cells and tumor cells. The expression of specific surface markers is essential for identifying and characterizing these cells.

The correct answer indicates that NK cells express CD2, CD11b, and CD16. CD2 is a marker involved in cell adhesion and activation of T and NK cells. CD11b, part of the integrin family, is associated with immune cell adhesion and can enhance the cytotoxic function of NK cells. CD16 is an Fc receptor that allows NK cells to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), a key mechanism through which they destroy target cells.

In contrast, other choices include markers that are typically associated with different types of lymphocytes. For example, CD4 and CD8 are markers primarily associated with T cells, specifically helper and cytotoxic T cells, respectively. CD14 and CD19 are markers for monocytes/macrophages and B cells, respectively, while CD3 is a marker for T cells that is not expressed on NK cells. CD28 is also related to T cell costimulation.

This understanding of NK cell markers is essential for the