cytotoxic T lymphocytes
The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.
DEFINITION:
- cytotoxic T lymphocytes
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(CTL) Differentiated T lymphocytes that can recognize and lyse target cells bearing specific antigens recognized by their antigen receptors. Recognition is MHC restricted; the foreign antigen is recognized only in association with self MHC antigens. The cytotoxic activity requires firm binding of the lymphocyte to the target cell to produce holes in the plasma membrane of the target cell, loss of its cell content, and osmotic lysis. These lymphocytes are important in graft rejection and killing of tumor cells and virus-infected host cells. Murine killer T cells are marked by the Ly-2 and Ly-3 antigens, human cells by the CD4 and CD8 antigens. Called also "killer cells" or "killer T cells."
Used in 4 Term definitions
Used in 4 Term definitions