T Lymphocytes

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T Lymphocytes

T lymphocytes are another type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response. There are two main types at GCSE:

Painted comparison of two T cell types: helper T cell (sky-blue, releasing golden signalling molecules to coordinate immunity) on the left, killer T cell (deep purple, destroying an infected body cell with cracked surface) on the right.

Figure 2: Helper T cells coordinate immunity via chemical signals; killer T cells directly destroy infected body cells.

Helper T Cell Killer T Cell B Cell Infected Body Cell Activates Destroys

Figure 2: Helper T cells activate B cells; killer T cells destroy infected body cells.

  • Helper T cells: Detect antigens and coordinate the immune response — they send chemical signals that activate B cells to produce antibodies and stimulate other white blood cells
  • Killer T cells (cytotoxic T cells): Directly destroy body cells that have been infected by a pathogen, or cells that are cancerous
  • Memory T cells: Long-lived cells that enable a faster response on re-exposure to the same antigen

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