5.11 Cell-mediated adaptive immunity and cytotoxic T cells

what does the term cell mediated mean?

‘Cell-mediated’ refers to the fact that the response is carried out T cells that eliminate intracellular pathogens without antibodies

what happens if there is no cytotoxic cells?

Without cytotoxic T cells, necrosis may instead occur, which will damage nearby cells. The mechanism of action of cytotoxic T cells is quite similar to natural killer cells. However, cytotoxic T cells are specific for certain antigens and form memory cells.

what do cytotoxic cells release?

It is important to remember that cytotoxic T cells initiate apoptosis in infected body cells.

what do t cells include?

• cytotoxic cells

• helper T cells

What are the steps in Cell-Mediated Immunity Activation?

1. (APC) displays a foreign antigen on its MHC-II marker and binds to a specific helper T cell.

2. This helper T cell undergoes clonal selection and expansion

3. An naive cytotoxic T cell get activated by cytokines released by the activated helper T cells

4. This stimulation causes the cytotoxic T cells to proliferate rapidly, creating a large army of active cytotoxic T cells and memory T cells.

5. The active cytotoxic T cells destroy the infected target cells by triggering apoptosis.