ANSWERS: 1
  • Suppressor T cells, along with cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells, are part of your body's immune system responsible for helping you stay healthy.

    Background

    T cells (also called T lymphocytes) are white blood cells that protect your body from infectious disease, cancer and foreign substances.

    Immune Response

    Helper T cells circulate in the body looking for diseased or infected cells. When the helper T cells find diseased or infected cells, the helper T cells call the cytotoxic T cells. The cytotoxic T cells kill the diseased or infected cells.

    Suppressor T Cells

    The function of suppressor T cells is to tell the immune system when diseased or infected cells are gone and the cytotoxic T cells are no longer needed.

    Considerations

    Although suppressor T cells are not well understood, many researchers believe a dysfunction of suppressor T cells are a factor in autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus) in which the body attacks and kills healthy cells.

    Cancer

    According to the National Cancer Institute, researchers are studying suppressor T cells in the treatment of cancer.

    Source:

    Union County College: Immunity

    "Suppressor T Cells in Human Diseases;" Clare Baecher-Allan and David A. Hafler, 2003

    National Cancer Institute: Dictionary of Cancer Terms

    More Information:

    Mansfield, Conn., Schools: Warriors of Your Immune System

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