Lymphokine Activated Killer Cells (LAK cells) are a type of white blood cells that have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of cancer. The phonetic transcription of Lymphokine Activated Killer Cells is /ˈlɪmfəʊkaɪn ˈæktɪveɪtɪd ˈkɪlə sɛls/. Lymphokines are substances that stimulate the immune system and activated killer cells are those which can attack and destroy cancer cells. LAK cells are produced by exposing white blood cells to substances called Lymphokines, hence the name Lymphokine Activated Killer Cells.
Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK) cells can be defined as a specialized subgroup of immune cells that are produced by stimulating lymphocytes, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, with certain cytokines or chemical messengers known as lymphokines. These lymphokines, including Interleukin-2 (IL-2), activate and enhance the cytotoxic or cell-killing abilities of these NK cells.
Lymphokine Activated Killer cells are crucial components of the body's immune system, involved in the recognition and elimination of infected or cancerous cells. Once stimulated with IL-2 or other lymphokines, NK cells transform into Lymphokine Activated Killer cells, displaying increased cytolytic activity against target cells. This enhanced cytotoxicity is attributed to the augmented production and release of lethal substances such as perforin, granzymes, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by LAK cells.
The use of Lymphokine Activated Killer cell therapy has gained attention in cancer immunotherapy, where it is used as an adoptive cellular therapy to combat tumor growth. LAK cell therapy involves the extraction of NK cells from a cancer patient's blood, followed by their activation and expansion in the laboratory using lymphokines like IL-2. These activated LAK cells are then returned to the patient's body to specifically target and destroy tumor cells.
In conclusion, Lymphokine Activated Killer cells are specialized immune cells derived from NK cells that possess enhanced cytotoxic abilities due to their activation with lymphokines. These cells play a critical role in the immune response against infected or cancerous cells, and their therapeutic use holds promise in cancer treatment.