T cell

American  

noun

Immunology.

1. any of several closely related lymphocytes, developed in the thymus, that circulate in the blood and lymph and orchestrate the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells, either by lymphokine secretions or by direct contact: helper T cells recognize foreign antigen on the surfaces of other cells, then they stimulate B cells to produce antibody and signal killer T cells to destroy the antigen-displaying cells; subsequently suppressor T cells return the immune system to normal by inactivating the B cells and killer T cells.

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T-cell British  

noun

1. another name for T-lymphocyte

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T cell Scientific  

1. Any of the lymphocytes that develop in the thymus gland and that act in the immune system by binding antigens to receptors on the surface of their cells in what is called the cell-mediated immune response. T cells are also involved in the regulation of the function of B cells.

2. Also called T lymphocyte

3. See more at cell-mediated immune response Compare B cell

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T-cell Cultural  

1. Key to the immune system, these cells originate in the bone marrow but mature in the thymus (the t stands for thymus). T-cells attack other body cells that are infected by some bacteria, a virus, or another pathogen. (Compare B-cell.)

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Discover More

T-cell counts are used as a diagnostic test to indicate the strength of the immune system in AIDS patients.

The HIV/AIDS virus destroys a type of T-cell, leading to the syndrome characterized by a defective immune system.

Etymology

Origin of T cell

1965–70; T(hymus-derived)

Example Sentences

In earlier studies, Amor Vegas and her team engineered immune cells known as anti-uPAR CAR T cells that selectively remove senescent cells in mice, leading to major improvements in the animals' metabolism.

From Science Daily

To address this age related decline, scientists from MIT and the Broad Institute developed a method to temporarily reprogram liver cells in a way that strengthens T cell performance.

From Science Daily

When T cells were added to the system, either directly or by exposing them to fluid from the macrophage cultures, the T cells began producing large amounts of IFN-gamma.

From Science Daily

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a bachelor of science and a medical degree, Levis became fascinated with T cells, the white blood cells that help defend the body from infections.

From The Wall Street Journal

By blocking that connection, these medicines remove a brake that tumors use to keep immune cells such as T cells from killing cancer cells.

From Science Daily