What Are Effector T Cells And The Different Cell Types?
The term "effector T cell" refers to a type of T cell that actively responds to a stimulus, such as co-stimulation. Learn more about our unique Effector T cell separation technologies.
Effector cells are immune system cells that have gone through the process of differentiation and maturation. In the event of a stimulus, these are the cells that mount specific responses. As part of the immune response against a pathogen or a self cell, the body's immune system generates effector cells (in case of autoimmune disorders).
We'll look at how Pluribead cell enrichment aids in Effector T Cells isolation.
T Cell Activation
When a T cell encounters a recognized APC, it receives a signal to mature. If a cell gets all three signals, it will develop into an effector cell. If a cell only receives one of the signals (TCR or BCR), it becomes ineffective.
Effector Cells
Depending on the APC encountered, a naive cell can develop into an effector T cell. Effector T cells have relatively short lifespans and perform immune response functions. T cells can be a cytotoxic, helper, or regulatory.
Cytotoxic T Cells
The primary function of cytotoxic T cells, also known as CD8+ cells, is to kill toxic/target cells. When they are recognized, their purpose changes to the removal of virally infected cells, bacteria, and tumor fragments (such
as cancer cells) via a process known as apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs when the internal organelles of a cell are destroyed, causing the cell to die from the inside out.
Helper T Cells
T helper cells, also known as CD4+ cells, are similar to cytotoxic cells but perform a broader range of functions. These cells are critical to cell immunity because they are required for the majority of adaptive immune responses. When exposed to antigens, T helper cells become activated and have the ability to differentiate into cell subtypes.
Regulatory T Cells
The regulatory T cell is the final type of effector cell. Once the threat has been eliminated, regulatory T cells are tasked with suppressing the autoimmune response. After helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells bind to a pathogen and work together to eliminate it from the body, they are no longer useful. Regulatory T cells prevent them from taking up space or attacking healthy cells until they die of apoptosis.
While these three types of effector cells handle the majority of the immune response, they are not the only T cell variations. Even after a pathogen has been removed, some types of T lymphocytes remain. These long-living lymphocytes are memory T cells that are highly capable of responding to antigens when reintroduced—which aids the immune system.
These cells are formed following infection and are extremely important because they have the ability to multiply into a large number of effector T cells when exposed to familiar antigens. Memory cells are distinct in that they remember pathogens and infectious cells faster than other cells, allowing them to fight bacteria and viruses more effectively.
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Pluribead, a leading cell enrichment technology, is specifically designed for fast and gentle sample preparation, resulting in a highly-enriched population of healthy, viable cells. Learn more about our T cell isolation products, which can help you overcome long-standing sample preparation challenges.