I read an interesting article at Biology News Net www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/10/01/natural_killer_cells_keep_immune_system_in_balance.html concerning research into Natural Killer, or NK cells which play a vital role in our innate immune system. A healthy body produces NK cells to respond early during infection. They are activated and kill cells infected with a virus. Researchers from Brown and McGill Universities have found that NK cells are more important to the body then previously thought and also help T cells from becoming to numerous and activated to cause harm. This discovery could someday be used to help treat patients with compromised immune systems such as HIV patents or transplant patients. Patients with compromised immune systems may not be able to sustain NK cells on their own. The possibility to make NK cells proliferate is an important milestone to help sustain them in the body when needed according to Christine Biron, Professor of medical science at Brown University. The discovery is published in the September issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.