CIK cells are being studied intensely as a possible therapy treatment for cancer and other types of viral infections.
CIK cells show a large amount of cytotoxic potential against various types of tumors.
In a few cases, CIK cell treatment lead to the complete disappearance of tumor burdens, extended periods of survival, and improved quality of life, even if the cancerous tumor cells were in advanced stages.
At the moment, the exact mechanism of tumor recognition in CIK cells are not completely understood.
Microglia are extremely sensitive forms of effector cells, because they must be alert enough to address possible life-threatening damage.
Microglia must always be capable of recognizing any foreign bodies, engulf them, and activate T-cells.
Microglia are distinguishable from macrophages because of their ability to transform, which allows them to protect the CNS under relatively short amounts of time.