T cell

T cell

n.

Any of the lymphocytes that mature in the thymus and have the ability to recognize specific peptide antigens through the receptors on their cell surface. Also called T lymphocyte.

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[t(hymus-derived) cell.]

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T cell

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. Also called T lymphocyte. See more at cell-mediated immune response, Compare B cell.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

T cell - a small lymphocyte developed in the thymus; it orchestrates the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells T lymphocyte lymph cell, lymphocyte - an agranulocytic leukocyte that normally makes up a quarter of the white blood cell count but increases in the presence of infection CD4 cell, CD4 T cell, helper cell, helper T cell - T cell with CD4 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and secretes lymphokines that stimulate B cells and killer T cells; helper T cells are infected and killed by the AIDS virus CD8 cell, CD8 T cell, cytotoxic T cell, killer cell, killer T cell - 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