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As they divide, T cells differentiate and acquire the capacity to produce what other structure?

Immunoglobulins
Leukocidins
Cytokines
Immunophilins
Integrins

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

T cells differentiate and acquire the capacity to produce (3) cytokines, which are crucial for managing immune responses and are part of cell-mediated immunity. Immunoglobulins are produced by B cells, not T cells, and are involved in the humoral immune response.

Step-by-step explanation:

As T cells divide and differentiate, they acquire the capacity to produce cytokines. These are soluble factors that T cells secrete to communicate with other cells of the immune system, thus managing the immune responses. This process is a key part of cell-mediated immunity, where T cells can become either killer T cells or helper T cells. Killer T cells are responsible for destroying cells that are infected with pathogens or are cancerous, whereas helper T cells release cytokines to control and coordinate the actions of other leukocytes.

The production of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, is associated with B cells, not T cells. Immunoglobulins bind to specific antigens on pathogens or infected cells, leading to their destruction. The humoral immune response includes this. Despite not producing immunoglobulins, T cells are essential for the adaptive immune response because they create cytokines and regulate cellular connections.

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User Rie
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