cytotoxic T cell

noun

variants: or less commonly cytotoxic T lymphocyte

plural cytotoxic T cells also cytotoxic T lymphocytes

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 (such as a virus-infected cell) having a specific antigenic molecule displayed on its surface Viruses use many tricks to persist in an immunocompetent host, one of them being mutation of the sequences (epitopes) recognized by the host's viral-specific cytotoxic T cells.— Rolf M. Zinkernagel and Hans Hengartner … cytotoxic T cells which recognize foreign determinants in association with class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens.— Pauline Johnson et al.

— called also cytolytic T cell, killer T cell

Learn More About cytotoxic T cell

Dictionary Entries Near cytotoxic T cell

cytotoxic

cytotoxic T cell

cytotoxin

Statistics for cytotoxic T cell

Cite this Entry

“Cytotoxic T cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cytotoxic%20T%20cell. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for cytotoxic T cell

cytotoxic T cell

noun

variants: also cytotoxic T lymphocyte

Medical 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 Viruses use many tricks to persist in an immunocompetent host, one of them being mutation of the sequences (epitopes) recognized by the host's viral-specific cytotoxic T cells.— Rolf M. Zinkernagel and Hans Hengartner

— called also CTL, cytolytic T cell, cytolytic T lymphocyte, killer T cell, killer T lymphocyte

— compare helper t cell, suppressor t cell