BRAINCAKECytotoxic T-cells
Cytotoxic T cells (Tc) kill abnormal cells and cells that are infected with pathogens.
Abnormal cells have abnormal antigens on the cell surface and infected cells will have become antigen-presenting cells and present fragments of foreign proteins on the cell surface.
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Key terms in this lesson
- pathogen
- A microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus or protoctist, that causes disease.
- antigen
- A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
- T-lymphocyte
- A type of white blood cell, matured in the thymus gland, responsible for the cell-mediated immune response.
More in Cell Recognition and the Immune System
- Phagocytosis
- Antigens
- Lymphocytes
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
- Humoral Immunity
- Primary and Secondary Immune Response
- Antibody Structure
- Antibody Function
All 30 lessons in Cell Recognition and the Immune System · All AQA AS-level Biology topics