helper T cell

noun

: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreign antigen and secreting lymphokines to activate T cell and B cell proliferation and that usually carries CD4 molecular markers on its cell surface

called also helper cell, T-helper cell

Examples of helper T cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result came back positive, and because his helper T cell count was below 200 then, he was diagnosed with AIDS. —Ema Sasic, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2023

The mice treated with the CAR T therapy had significantly reduced helper T cell responses—in some cases completely eliminating the them. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

helper T cell

noun

: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreign antigen and releasing substances which promote an increase in the number of T cells and B cells

called also helper cell

Medical Definition

helper T cell

noun

help·​er T cell ˌhel-pər-ˈtē- 

: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreign antigen and secreting lymphokines to activate T cell and B cell proliferation, that usually carries CD4 molecular markers on its cell surface, and that is reduced to 20 percent or less of normal numbers in AIDS

called also helper cell, helper lymphocyte, helper T lymphocyte

compare cytotoxic t cell, suppressor t cell