Killer T Cell (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- Killer T cells recognize antigens presented on the surface of infected cells through their CD8 receptors, then trigger the death of the infected cell.
- CD8 T cells, also known as killer T cells, can identify and kill cells infected by a virus through specific cell-to-cell interactions.
- During viral infections, the activation of killer T cells can rapidly reduce the number of infected cells in the body by killing the cells that display viral antigens.
- Researchers are working on harnessing the power of killer T cells as a new method to treat diseases by directing them to destroy specific types of cancer cells.
- When the killer T cell comes into contact with a cell that presents an antigen on its surface that matches its receptor, the T cell responds by destroying the infected cell through a highly specific interaction.