A researcher identifies a group of malignant epithelial cells in the sigmoid colon that have decreased their surface expression of MHC class I antigen. Which of the following immune effector cell types is most likely to kill the transformed epithelial cells?

Question

A researcher identifies a group of malignant epithelial cells in the sigmoid colon that have decreased their surface expression of MHC class I antigen.  Which of the following immune effector cell types is most likely to kill the transformed epithelial cells?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: NK cells recognize and kill cells with decreased MHC class I antigen cell surface expression, such as virus-infected cells and tumor cells.  They are large lymphocytes that contain perforins and granzymes in cytoplasmic granules.  NK cells kill target cells by inducing apoptosis.

A Researcher Identifies a Group of Malignant Epithelial Cells in the Sigmoid