Immunologic Cytotoxicity

Immunologic cytotoxicity refers to the destruction of target cells by immunologically active effector cells. This process is a fundamental mechanism of the immune system, enabling it to eliminate infected, transformed (cancerous), or otherwise abnormal cells. The destruction can be mediated directly by sensitized T-lymphocytes (cytotoxic T cells), by lymphoid or myeloid killer cells (such as natural killer [NK] cells), or indirectly via cytotoxic antibodies, factors released by lymphoid cells, or complement proteins. Mechanisms include CTL-mediated killing (perforin/granzymes, Fas ligand), NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Other names

Immune-mediated cytolysisImmune-mediated killing