cytotoxic t lymphocyte. A lymphocyte that is able to kill foreign cells marked for destruction by the cellular immune system. CTLs can destroy cancer cells and cells infected with viruses, fungi, or certain bacteria. CTLs are also known as killer T cells; they carry the CD8 marker. CTLs kill virus-infected cells, whereas antibodies generally target free-floating viruses in the blood. See also CD8 (T8) Cells.
abbreviation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte. A cell that can kill foreign cells that were marked for destriction by other immune system cells. (The immune system's hit squat.)
abbreviation for cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
cytotoxic T lymphocyte. immune system cell that can destroy cancer cells and cells infected with viruses, fungi or certain bacteria. CTLs, also known as killer T cells, carry the CD8 marker. CTLs kill virus-infected cells, whereas antibodies generally target free-floating viruses in the blood. CTL responses are a proposed but unproven correlate of HIV immunity. (See also CD8+ T lymphocyte.) deletion: elimination of a gene either in nature or in the laboratory.