Author(s)

Jerry T. Thornthwaite, Hare Shah, Pashupati Shah, Henry Respess

Dept. of Chemistry & Engineering Sciences and Freed Hardeman University.
The Cancer Research Institute of West Tennessee2, 114 East Main St, Henderson, TN 38340.

The Natural Killer Cell (NKC) is the cell-mediated cornerstone of innate immunity. The purpose of this reviewis to give a historical perspective of the discovery of the Natural Killer Cell (NKC)and to apply the use of supplements in the enhancement of NKC in human cancers for the developmentof human health and well-being.Since the discovery of the NKC, as observed by Nomarski optics, scanning (SEM)/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with cellular numeration and enrichment using bovine serum albumin (BSA) continuous gradients, there have been significant research and clinical studies to increase the effectiveness of NKC in the destruction of cancer cells. Based on significant research and clinical studies, at least 16 components have been identified that enhance or may enhance, based on their immune modulator activity, the NKC. These supplements include Alpha LipoicAcid, Arabinoxylin, Curcumin, Garlic, Genistein, Ginseng, Lentinan, Mistletoe, N-Acetylcysteine, Resveratrol, Selenium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E and zinc.

Natural Killer Cell; Morphology; Supplements; Immunity

J. Thornthwaite, H. Shah, P. Shah and H. Respess, "The Natural Killer Cell: A Historical Perspective and the Use of Supplements to Enhance NKC Activity," Journal of Immune Based Therapies, Vaccines and Antimicrobials, Vol. 1 No. 3, 2012, pp. 21-51. doi: 10.4236/jibtva.2012.13004.