NK/Non-lineage Cell CD Proteins

NK cells are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte critical to the innate immune system. NK cells can be identified by the presence of CD56 and the absence of CD3 (CD56+, CD3−).NK cells differentiate from CD127+ common innate lymphoid progenitor, which is downstream of the common lymphoid progenitor from which B and T lymphocytes are also derived. NK cells are known to differentiate and mature in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, and thymus, where they then enter into the circulation. NK cells usually express the surface markers CD16 (FcγRIII) and CD57 in humans, NK1.1 or NK1.2 in C57BL/6 mice.