T Cell (Noun)
Meaning
A small lymphocyte developed in the thymus; it orchestrates the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- T cells play a crucial role in cell-mediated immunity by recognizing and eliminating infected cells or tumor cells.
- The T cell receptor on the surface of T cells recognizes specific antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules.
- Activated T cells can differentiate into various effector cells, such as cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells, to coordinate an immune response.
- Cytotoxic T cells are a type of T cell that directly kills infected cells or tumor cells by releasing cytotoxins.
- In some cases, T cells can also contribute to autoimmune diseases by mistakenly targeting and attacking healthy cells in the body.