Assess changes in T-lymphocyte surface markers that may indicate immune stimulation.
This test was developed, and its performance characteristics determined, by LabCorp. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes that mediate MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity against virus-infected and malignant cells and manufacture a number of cytokines following stimulation of the immune system.
The combination of IL-2 and T-cell markers can be used to assess the state of activation of T cells. NK cells are responsible for the destruction of virally infected cells, tumor cells, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
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