What is the function of T-cells?

T-cells play a key role in the adaptive immune system, acting as key defenders against potential threats. The adaptive immune system is a specialized immune system that’s constantly monitoring for intruders and only gets activated in response to a foreign substance. On detecting a threat, the adaptive immune system develops a customized defense strategy to combat it effectively.

Each T-cell is unique and specifically designed to recognize and combat a particular type of intruder. When the immune system identifies a threat, it recruits the specific T-cell that is tailored to counter that particular intruder. The selected T-cell undergoes replication, generating more T-cells specialized in defeating the intruder. These newly activated T-cells, called effector cells, work together to target and destroy the threat, eliminating the infection and disease from the body.

A special feature of T-cells is their ability to memorize the characteristics of the intruder. This immunological memory allows T-cells to provide immunity against recurring infections by reacting faster and more potently to subsequent encounters with the same pathogen.