Cytotoxicity

Definition

Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. It is a crucial mechanism in the immune response, where certain cells can induce death in target cells, such as infected or cancerous cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are primary mediators of cytotoxicity.
2. Cytotoxicity involves mechanisms like the release of perforin and granzymes by immune cells.
3. Perforin forms pores in the target cell membrane, allowing granzymes to enter and induce apoptosis.
4. Cytotoxic responses are part of both innate and adaptive immunity but differ in their activation processes.
5. The efficacy of cytotoxic responses can be influenced by factors like cytokine signaling and the presence of inhibitory receptors.

Review Questions

Related terms

Natural Killer (NK) Cells: A type of lymphocyte that plays a role in the innate immune system by targeting virally infected or cancerous cells through cytotoxic activity.

Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs): A subset of T lymphocytes involved in adaptive immunity that directly kill infected or cancerous cells through mechanisms involving perforin and granzymes.

Apoptosis:

A form of programmed cell death characterized by cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing, often induced during cytotoxic responses.