How do killer t cells work




















Register Log in. Download CD8 T cells. Bitesize category Cells: Bite-sized Immunology. Dendritic Cells. Dendritic Cells Tissue-specific. The bumps on the T-cell are T-cell receptors used to fight infections. From The National Cancer Institute. Killer T-cells find and destroy infected cells that have been turned into virus-making factories. To do this they need to tell the difference between the infected cells and healthy cells with the help of special molecules called antigens.

Killer T-cells are able to find the cells with viruses and destroy them. Antigens work like identification tags that give your immune system information about your cells and any intruders.

Healthy cells have 'self-antigens' on the surface of their membranes. They let T-cells know that they are not intruders. If a cell is infected with a virus, it has pieces of virus antigens on its surface. This is a signal for the Killer T-cell that lets it know this is a cell that must be destroyed. T-cells have many identical T-cell receptors that cover their surfaces and can only bind to one shape of antigen.

When a T-cell receptor fits with its viral antigen on an infected cell, the Killer T-cell releases cytotoxins to kill that cell. There are 25 million to a billion different T-cells in your body. Each cell has a unique T-cell receptor that can fit with only one kind of antigen, like a lock that can fit with only one shape of key. Antigens and receptors work a lot like a lock and key.

Most of these antigens will never get in your body, but the T-cells that patrol your body will recognize them if they do. The T-cell receptor fits with its antigen like a complex key. When the perfectly shaped virus antigen on an infected cell fits into the Killer T-cell receptor, the T-cell releases perforin and cytotoxins. Perforin first makes a pore, or hole, in the membrane of the infected cell. Cytotoxins go directly inside the cell through this pore, destroying it and any viruses inside.

Register Log in. Principles of the Assay T cells are so called because they are predominantly produced in the thymus. T cell left ; Antigen presenting cell right. Helper T-cell. Cytotoxic T cell. Bitesize category Cells: Bite-sized Immunology. What are B-cells? B-cells are the type of cells that produce antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses. These antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that are specific to each pathogen and are able to lock onto the surface of an invading cell and mark it for destruction by other immune cells.

B-lymphocytes and cancer have what may be described as a love-hate relationship. For example, B-cells sometimes inhibit tumor development by producing antibodies that may attack cancer cells or oncogenic viruses , such as human papillomavirus HPV , which is responsible for most cervical , anal , penile and other reproductive cancers. Other times, regulatory B-cells may release immune-suppressive cytokines that stifle an anti-tumor response. Also, B-cells are far more likely than T-cells to mutate into a liquid cancer such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL or B-cell lymphoma.

What are T-cells? Types of T-cells There are two main types of T-cells: Helper T-cells stimulate B-cells to make antibodies and help killer cells develop. What do T-cells do?

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