Murine T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

**Semantic type:** Cell

**Definition:** Immunized T-lymphocytes which can directly destroy appropriate target cells. These cytotoxic lymphocytes may be generated in vitro in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC), in vivo during a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, or after immunization with an allograft, tumor cell or virally transformed or chemically modified target cell. The lytic phenomenon is sometimes referred to as cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). These cells are distinct from natural killer cells and from killer cells mediating antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity.

**Synonyms:** - CTL - Cell-Mediated Lympholytic Cells - Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes - T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - cytotoxic T cells