Definition

1. 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

1. 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