So I had this question on my TEAS exam: Which one is closest to cytotoxic t cells?
a. b cells,
b. natural killer lymphocytes
c. dendritic
d. x (I forgot the last choice but it might have been helper T cells).
I was really confused and can't stop thinking about it. Its a very generic question. By "closest", do they mean in terms of the immunity response type (adaptive) (b cells) or in terms of the way they function (nk cells) or as in the T-lymphocytes category? What do you think?
From Google:
"Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte critical to the innate immune system."
To determine which choice is closest to cytotoxic T cells, we need to understand the function and classification of different immune cells.
Cytotoxic T cells, also known as CD8+ T cells, are a type of T lymphocyte that plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response. They are responsible for directly attacking and killing infected or abnormal cells in the body.
To determine the closest match, let's evaluate each choice:
a. B cells: B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are another type of lymphocyte involved in the immune response. They produce antibodies and play a role in the humoral immune response. While B cells are part of the adaptive immune response, they are not the closest match to cytotoxic T cells, as their functions and mechanisms of action differ.
b. Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes: NK cells are a type of lymphocyte involved in the innate immune response. They are known for their ability to kill infected or abnormal cells without prior sensitization or activation. NK cells are not as specific as cytotoxic T cells, but they do share some functional similarities, such as their ability to recognize and destroy target cells. NK lymphocytes are the closest match to cytotoxic T cells among the answer choices.
c. Dendritic cells: Dendritic cells are professional antigen-presenting cells that capture, process, and present antigens to T cells. They play a crucial role in initiating adaptive immune responses by activating T cells. While dendritic cells are important in the activation of cytotoxic T cells, they are not the closest match in terms of their function or classification.
d. Helper T cells: Helper T cells, also known as CD4+ T cells, are another type of T lymphocyte involved in the adaptive immune response. Helper T cells assist in the activation and coordination of various immune cells, including cytotoxic T cells. Although helper T cells have a close functional relationship with cytotoxic T cells, they are not themselves cytotoxic T cells.
Based on the information above, the closest match to cytotoxic T cells among the answer choices is b. natural killer lymphocytes. While they are not identical, NK lymphocytes share similar functions and mechanisms of action in targeting infected or abnormal cells.