cytotoxic T cell
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of white blood cell (T cell) with CD8 receptors: A cytotoxic T cell is a specific type of lymphocyte (T cell) that carries CD8 receptor molecules on its surface.
- An immune cell that destroys infected or abnormal cells: Its primary function is to identify and kill body cells that are infected by viruses or have become cancerous.
Usage
- Noun:
- Cytotoxic T cells are essential for fighting viral infections.
- The vaccine aims to stimulate the body's production of cytotoxic T cells.
- A deficiency in cytotoxic T cells can make a person more susceptible to certain illnesses.
Advanced Usage
- "Cytotoxic T cell response": Refers to the collective activity and proliferation of these cells when the immune system is activated.
- The strength of the cytotoxic T cell response determines the effectiveness of clearing the infection.
- "Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)": A synonymous term often used in medical and scientific literature.
- The study focused on the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in tumor immunity.
Variants and Related Words
- Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) (n): Another name for a cytotoxic T cell.
- CD8+ T cell (n): A technical term highlighting the presence of the CD8 receptor, often used interchangeably with cytotoxic T cell.
- Killer T cell (n): An informal name describing its function.
Synonyms
- Killer T cell: A common synonym emphasizing its destructive function.
- CD8+ T cell: A more technical synonym focusing on its surface marker.
Related Phrases
- T cell-mediated immunity: The broader immune response in which cytotoxic T cells play a central role.
- Protection against the virus relies on T cell-mediated immunity.
- Cell-mediated cytotoxicity: The process by which cytotoxic T cells destroy target cells.
- The assay measured the level of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
Related Idioms
No specific idioms are commonly associated with this technical term.
Noun
- T cell with CD8 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and binds to the infected cell and kill it