alleryStart learning →What do natural killer cells recognize?
ACells already coated with antibodies
BCells lacking self proteins on the surface
CCells with a raised iron content
DCells that have stopped dividing
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Cells lacking self proteins on the surface
1. Natural killer cells recognise cells that fail to display self proteins on their plasma membrane, or that carry foreign or abnormal markers.
2. That set includes cancer cells, virus-infected cells and other cells with atypical surface proteins.
3. Because the trigger is the absence of a normal marker rather than a specific antigen, the immunity provided is generalised and nonspecific.
4. Recognising cells already coated with antibodies describes eosinophil action against antigen-antibody complexes, so that option belongs to a different cell.
5. Iron content plays no part in this recognition.
6. Ceasing to divide is not a trigger either; if it were, most healthy differentiated cells would be attacked.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "The Cardiovascular System: Blood", section 18.4 Leukocytes and Platelets_
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