Adaptive Immunity - Cellular Immune Response

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to adaptive immunity and cellular immune response.

Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)

Cells that engulf antigens and present fragments on their surface for recognition by T cells.

Dendritic Cells

The major initiators of adaptive immunity, part of the innate immune system.

MHC I

Major Histocompatibility Complex I; presents intracellular antigens to cytotoxic T cells.

MHC II

Major Histocompatibility Complex II; presents extracellular antigens to helper T cells.

Costimulation

A necessary second signal for T cell activation, involving proteins and cytokines.

Clonal Expansion

The process of T cells proliferating and differentiating into active or memory cells after antigen recognition.

Cytotoxic T Cells (TC)

T cells that directly kill infected or cancerous cells.

Helper T Cells (TH)

T cells that regulate the immune response by activating B cells and cytotoxic T cells.

Memory T Cells

T cells that persist long-term after an infection, providing faster and stronger immune responses upon re-exposure to the antigen.

Anergic T Cells

T cells that become inactive or tolerant to an antigen due to lack of costimulation.