T cells

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T-cells or T-lymphocytes are a group of lymphocytes involved in specific immune response, specificlly antigen-specific cellular interactions. There are two main subsets; Cytotoxic T-cells and Helper T-cells, Helper T-cells are further divided into inflammatory (TH1) and (TH2) Helper cells which asssist B-cells by forming antibodies. T-cells are formed from bone marrow stem cells that undergo maturation in the Thymus  [1].

Individual T cells are able to recognise only certain antigens, discriminating between antigens using protein molecules on the cell surface called receptors. The receptor and the antigen fit together like a lock and a key only when their shapes match perfectly. The number and specificity of T cell receptors appears to be determined by the cell’s genes [2].

Referneces

  1. Michael Madigan, John Martinko, David Stahl, David Clark. (2012) Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Thirteenth Edition, San Francisco: Pearson. 246-249
  2. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Definition-of-MS/T-cells