dictionary help| cytotoxicity | medical dictionary |
The quality or state of being cytotoxic.
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), a form of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity that functions only if antibodies are bound to the target cell.
Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, the toxic or lytic activity of T-lymphocytes, which may or may not be mediated by antibodies. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes may cause lysis of cells by production of cytolytic proteins such as perforin. B-cells may cause lysis of cells by antibody-complement binding to a target cell. Natural killer cells are cytotoxic without prior sensitization. Toxicity by lymphocytes may also be mediated by antibodies; there are three kinds of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes: those that are antigen-specific as a result of previous allergization (immunization), killer cells, and natural killer cells.
See: antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
(05 Mar 2000)
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