helper cells
The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.
DEFINITION:
- helper cells
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Differentiated T lymphocytes whose cooperation (help) is required for the production of antibody against most (T-dependent) antigens. Activation of B lymphocytes (B cells) requires recognition of the antigenic determinant against which specific antibody is produced by antigen receptors on a B cell, recognition of some other antigenic determinant by antigen receptors on a helper cell, and a signal passed from the helper cell to the B cell, probably requiring direct cell-to-cell contact. Murine helper cells are marked by the Ly-1 antigen, human helper cells by the CD4 antigen.
Used in 3 Term definitions
Used in 3 Term definitions