Immunocytes refer to cells involved in or related to immune responses. Immunocytes are commonly known as white blood cells, including lymphocytes and various phagocytes. They also specifically refer to lymphocytes that can recognize antigens and produce specific immune responses. Lymphocytes are the basic components of the immune system and are widely distributed in the body, mainly T cells and B cells are activated by antigen stimulation and produce specific immune responses. In addition to T cells and B cells, there is also NK cells. In addition to lymphocytes, cells involved in the immune response include plasma cells, granulocytes, mast cells, antigen-presenting cells and cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Immunocyte markers are expressed extracellularly on the immunocyte surface and usually used to distinguish the specific cell type from others. The figure 1 shows most immunocyte and their markers.
Figure 1. The common types of immunocytes and their markers
T cells, also known as T lymphocytes, are a group of multifunctional cells with many classification methods. Generally, T lymphocytes can be divided into two major subgroups: CD4+ and CD8+ based on different cell surface differentiation antigen (CD, cell marker). And based on different T cell surface receptor (TCR), it can be divided into αβT cell and γδT cell. Moreover, according to various functions, it can be divided into helper T cells (Th cells), suppressor T cells (Ts cells), cytotoxic T cells (CTL or Tc cells), and Regulatory T cells (Treg cells). In addition, according to different antigen responses, they are also divided into naive T cells, activated T cells and memory T cells.
Cytotoxic T cells (Tc cells) have a co-receptor called CD8 on their cell surface. CD8 partners with the T cell receptor and with MHC class I molecules, acting as a sort of bridge. This bridge allows cytotoxic T cells to recognize normal cells that are infected by a pathogen. Helper T cells (Th cells) have a different co-receptor called CD4 on their cell surface. CD4 also partners with the T cell receptor but interacts with MHC class II molecules instead of MHC class I molecules. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) also have CD4 on their surface, but they do not activate the immune system like helper T cells do. More information about T cells and cell markers>>
B cell, also known as B lymphocyte, is a type of lymphocyte involved in the humoral immunity of the adaptive immune system as they differentiate into plasma and produce antibodies. In order for a B cell to produce antibodies it must first become activated. B cells have been differentiated into four distinct groups; transitional, naïve, plasma, and memory B cells. Transitional B cells are the intermediate B cells that are the link between the immature B cells in the bone marrow and mature B cells in the lymphoid organs. Naïve B cells are the mature B cells that haven’t yet been exposed to antigens. Plasma B cells are the white blood cells that are differentiated from naïve B cells that secrete large quantities of antibodies in response to activation by antigens. Memory B cells are lymphocytes that are differentiated from naïve B cells during maturation and circulate through the bloodstream in a stationary phase. More information about B cells and cell markers>>
Natural killer (NK) cell is a specialized immune effector cell type that plays a critical role in immune activation against abnormal cells. NK cells show a broad array of tissue distribution and phenotypic variability. Different from events required for T cell activation, NK cell activation is governed by the interaction of NK receptors with target cells, independent of antigen processing and presentation. After activation, NK cells also secrete several cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and chemokines (CCL1, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, and CXCL8) that can modulate the function of other innate and adaptive immune cells. More information about NK cells and cell markers>>
CUSABIO collects and lists tht related molecules/targets of immunocyte markers, click to see all the related molecules/targets and research reagents of them.
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