cytotoxic T cell

cytotoxic T cell

noun

Definition of CYTOTOXIC T CELL

: a T cell that usually bears CD8 molecular markers on its surface and that functions in cell-mediated immunity by destroying a cell (as a virus-infected cell) having a specific antigenic molecule on its surface—called also CTL, cytolytic T cell, cytolytic T lymphocyte, killer T cell, killer T lymphocyte; compare helper t cell, suppressor t cell