helper t cell

helper T cell also helper cell   n.  Any of the T cells that when stimulated by a specific antigen release lymphokines that promote the activation and function of B cells and killer T cells. Also called T-helper cell.

Main Entry: help·er T cell
Pronunciation: "hel-p&r-'tE-
Function: noun
: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreignantigen and secreting lymphokines to activate T cell and B cell proliferation, that usually carries CD4 molecular markers on its cell surface, and that is reduced to 20 percent or less of normalnumbers in AIDS called also helper cell, helper lymphocyte, helper T lymphocyte; —compare CYTOTOXIC TCELL, SUPPRESSOR T CELL