cytotoxic T cell
- noun
- /ˌsaɪtəʊˈtɒksɪk tiː sɛl/
- Specialized
:
célula T citotóxica
- Cytotoxic T cells play a crucial role in identifying and eliminating cells that are infected by viruses.
Examples
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Now, in the lymph node, the cytotoxic T cells are activated.
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These studies indicate that HBcAg can be a stimulus for both helper and cytotoxic T cells.
Academic text (1994) -
HLA-restricted cytotoxic T cells recognize viral peptides in association with class 1 HLA molecules on the target hepatocyte.
Academic text (1994) -
However, it is not clear how depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes would directly enhance hepatic fibrosis, which has been linked with a more vigorous cytotoxic T-cell response.
Academic text (2002) -
These cells act as effector cells, either directly (cytotoxic T cells) or by activating other effector cells such as antibody-secreting B cells or antigen-specific activated macrophages.
Academic text (1991) -
After vaccination, cytotoxic T cells become activated and seek out and destroy the infected cells.
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Research shows that cytotoxic T cells are essential for the immune system to effectively fight off infections.
Synonyms
1
4.3
A white blood cell that finds and kills virus-infected cells
A kind of immune cell that finds and kills cells infected by viruses
A type of white blood cell that finds and kills virus-infected or abnormal cells
A white blood cell that finds and destroys virus-infected or cancerous body cells
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'cytotoxic' means harmful to cells and 'T cell' denotes a class/type of cell, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it is a type of cell that kills other cells. Detailed immunological specifics (e.g. CD8 receptor) are technical but not required to grasp the core meaning, making the MWE readily derivable from its parts.
Etymology
Cytotoxic T cell gets its name from its parts: cyto means 'cell' and toxic means 'poison', so the name points to a T cell that can damage other cells. That's why a cytotoxic T cell is a T cell that finds and 'kills' infected or cancerous cells to protect the body.