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Glite Dictionary
CD8 cell

CD8 cell

5.5
A type of white blood cell that finds and kills virus-infected or abnormal cells
  • noun
  • /siː diː eɪtʃ sɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : célula CD8
  • The immune response relies on CD8 cells to eliminate virus-infected cells.

Examples

  • Researchers measured the activity of CD8 cells following vaccination.

  • A lack of CD8 cells can leave patients more vulnerable to certain infections.

  • A CD8 cell plays a critical role in the immune response.

  • The CD8 cells are essential for fighting viral infections.

  • The immune response relies on CD8 cells to eliminate virus-infected cells.

  • A lack of CD8 cells can leave patients more vulnerable to certain infections.

  • Researchers measured the activity of CD8 cells following vaccination.

Synonyms

killer cell
vsCD8 cell
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A white blood cell that finds and kills virus-infected cells

is the technical term that also includes killing abnormal nonviral cells
CD8 T cell
vsCD8 cell
  • Specialized
4.6

A kind of immune cell that finds and kills cells infected by viruses

is broader, covering cells that kill infected or other abnormal cells
cytotoxic T cell
vsCD8 cell
  • Specialized
5.5

A white blood cell with a CD8 marker that kills infected or cancer cells

is similar but also applies to killing abnormal noninfected cells
killer T cell
vsCD8 cell
  • Specialized
5.2

A white blood cell that finds and destroys virus-infected or cancerous body cells

is broader, applying to killing infected or abnormal cells in general

Surface Forms

CD8 cell singular
CD8 cells plural

Morphology

CD8 + cell

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'CD8' names a membrane protein involved in immunity and 'cell' is a living unit, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is a cell that carries the CD8 protein. While the full immunological function (cytotoxic T cell activity) is specialist knowledge, the basic referent is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

CD8 cell gets its name from a small protein on the cell surface called CD8, which acts like a visible 'badge' to help the immune system recognise the cell. The word cell means a tiny living part of the body, and these 'badged' cells act like soldiers that find and kill virus-infected or abnormal cells, so the name points to their job.