How Do You Spell LAK CELL?

1. The term "LAK cell" refers to Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell, which is a specific type of immune cell used in cancer therapy. LAK cells are a subtype of natural killer (NK) cells that have been stimulated and activated in vitro with specific lymphokines. The process of activation involves exposing the NK cells to a combination of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a type of cytokine, along with other stimulatory factors.

   LAK cells are highly effective in recognizing and eliminating tumor cells through a process called cytotoxicity. They possess the ability to recognize and target cancer cells based on the presence of specific surface markers. Once activated, LAK cells release cytotoxic granules containing proteins, such as perforin and granzyme, which induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in the cancer cells. This cellular response aims to halt the proliferation and growth of the tumor.

   The use of LAK cells in cancer therapy, referred to as adoptive cell transfer, involves isolating NK cells from a patient's blood and culturing them in the laboratory with IL-2 to generate a large population of activated LAK cells. These LAK cells are then reintroduced back into the patient's body, where they can specifically target and destroy cancer cells. This therapeutic approach has shown promising results in some types of cancers, particularly leukemia and melanoma.

   In summary, LAK cells are a specialized type of immune cell that have been activated and expanded outside the body using lymphokines. Their main function is to recognize and eliminate cancer cells through cytotoxicity, which involves the release of proteins that induce programmed cell death.

Common Misspellings for LAK CELL

The term "LAK cell" stands for "Lymphokine-activated killer cell". The etymology of this term can be broken down as follows:

1. Lymphokine: The word "lymphokine" is derived from two components. "Lympho-" refers to lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell crucial for immune responses. "-Kine" is derived from the Greek word "kinēsis", meaning movement or motion. Therefore, "lymphokine" refers to a substance or molecule produced by lymphocytes that can affect cellular movement or function.

2. Activated: "Activated" comes from the Latin word "activatus", which means to set in motion or to make active. This term signifies that the lymphocytes have been stimulated or triggered to begin their killing function.

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