helper T cell
noun
: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreign antigen and secreting lymphokines to activate T cell and B cell proliferation and that usually carries CD4 molecular markers on its cell surface
called also helper cell, T-helper cell
Word History
First Known Use
1972, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
helper T cell
noun
help·er T cell ˌhel-pər-ˈtē- 
: a T cell that participates in an immune response by recognizing a foreign antigen 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 normal numbers in AIDS
called also helper cell, helper lymphocyte, helper T lymphocyte
compare cytotoxic t cell, suppressor t cell