Cytotoxic CD8-positive alpha-beta T cell (CD8+ αβ T cell (or CTL, cytotoxic T lymphocyte))

A cytotoxic CD8-positive alpha-beta T cell is an immune effector cell that plays a central role in adaptive immunity. These cells express both the alpha-beta form of the T-cell receptor and the co-receptor protein CD8 on their surface. They are primarily responsible for recognizing and eliminating host cells that have been infected by intracellular pathogens such as viruses or transformed by cancer. Upon activation through interaction with antigen-presenting cells displaying peptide antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, cytotoxic CD8-positive alpha-beta T cells release cytotoxic granules containing granzymes and perforin, inducing apoptosis in their targets. Their development occurs in the thymus through positive and negative selection processes ensuring self-tolerance while maintaining reactivity against foreign antigens[1][2][3]. This description highlights that "Cytotoxic CD8-positive alpha-beta T cell" refers to an entire immune effector population rather than an individual molecule or receptor.

Other names

Cytotoxic CD8+ αβ T lymphocyteCytotoxic CD8+ αβ T-cellCTL (cytotoxic T lymphocyte) when referring to effector function