Which cells are primarily involved in the innate immune response?

The innate immune response is the body's first line of defense against pathogens and is characterized by a rapid and non-specific response. Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in this immune response. They are a type of lymphocyte that can recognize and kill virally infected cells and tumor cells without the need for prior sensitization to specific antigens.

NK cells are particularly important because they can act quickly to eliminate infected or abnormal cells, recognizing changes on the surface of these cells as a result of infection or transformation. This function is essential for controlling infections during the early stages, prior to the more specific and slower adaptive immune response, which involves T and B cells.

In contrast, T cells and B cells are primarily associated with the adaptive immune response, which is more specific and involves a memory component. Memory cells are generated following an immune response and are responsible for long-lasting immunity against previously encountered pathogens but are not involved in the initial innate response. Thus, the predominance of NK cells in the innate immune response underscores their essential role in providing immediate defense against a broad range of pathogens.