INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination) Practice Exam

Which cells recognize and kill tumor or virally-infected cells?

1. NK and T cells

2. B and T cells

3. Macrophages

4. Dendritic cells

The correct answer is: NK and T cells

NK and T cells, also known as natural killer cells and T lymphocytes, are the two cell types that are responsible for recognizing and killing tumor or virally-infected cells. B and T cells, which are both types of lymphocytes, may also be involved in targeting these cells but they are not as specialized as NK and T cells. Macrophages are immune cells that are responsible for engulfing and destroying pathogens but they are not specifically programmed to recognize and eliminate tumor or diseased cells. Dendritic cells are also immune cells that play a role in activating the immune system, but they do not directly target and destroy tumor or infected cells like NK and T cells do. Overall, while all of these cell types may play a role in recognizing and eliminating harmful cells, NK and T cells are the most specialized and efficient in this specific task.