cell-mediated immunity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “cell-mediated immunity” mean?
An immune response that does not involve antibodies but is carried out by immune cells (especially T cells) that directly attack infected or abnormal cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An immune response that does not involve antibodies but is carried out by immune cells (especially T cells) that directly attack infected or abnormal cells.
A specific branch of the adaptive immune system where activated T-lymphocytes identify and destroy target cells (e.g., virus-infected cells, cancer cells, or cells of transplanted tissues). It is distinct from humoral (antibody-based) immunity and involves complex cell-to-cell signaling and activation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. British texts may occasionally use "cell-mediated immune response" synonymously. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both varieties, confined to biomedical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cell-mediated immunity” in a Sentence
[Disease/Pathogen] elicits a strong cell-mediated immunity.Cell-mediated immunity is crucial for fighting [intracellular pathogens like viruses].A deficiency in cell-mediated immunity leads to [increased susceptibility].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cell-mediated immunity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vaccine is designed to cell-mediate an immune response. (Rare, non-standard)
- The response was primarily cell-mediated. (as part of compound adjective)
American English
- The therapy aims to enhance the body's ability to mount a cell-mediated response. (as part of compound adjective)
adverb
British English
- The pathogen was cleared cell-mediatedly. (Extremely rare/constructed)
American English
- The immunity operated cell-mediatedly. (Extremely rare/constructed)
adjective
British English
- cell-mediated immune response
- cell-mediated cytotoxicity
American English
- cell-mediated immunity
- cell-mediated reaction
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in immunology, virology, and vaccine research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Essential term in medical diagnostics, immunology textbooks, and pharmacology (e.g., describing vaccine action).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cell-mediated immunity”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cell-mediated immunity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cell-mediated immunity”
- Omitting the hyphen: 'cell mediated immunity' (should be hyphenated).
- Confusing it with general 'immune cell activity'.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a cell-mediated immunity'). It is non-count.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. Cell-mediated immunity is a part of the adaptive (specific) immune system, which learns and remembers pathogens. Innate immunity is non-specific and immediate.
T lymphocytes (T cells), specifically helper T cells (CD4+) and cytotoxic T cells (CD8+), are the primary agents.
Yes, absolutely. That is its defining feature. It is a distinct arm of the adaptive immune system that operates independently of antibodies.
For pathogens that live inside human cells (like viruses or tuberculosis), killing the infected cell is crucial. Vaccines that stimulate cell-mediated immunity train T-cells to recognise and destroy these infected cells.
An immune response that does not involve antibodies but is carried out by immune cells (especially T cells) that directly attack infected or abnormal cells.
Cell-mediated immunity is usually technical/scientific in register.
Cell-mediated immunity: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsel ˌmiː.di.eɪ.tɪd ɪˈmjuː.nə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsel ˌmiː.di.eɪ.t̬ɪd ɪˈmjuː.nə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CELL-MEDIATED as CELLS acting as MEDIATORS or middle-men in the immune response. They don't send messages (antibodies); they do the job themselves.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY'S SPECIALISED ASSASSIN SQUAD (T-cells) that identifies and eliminates specific internal threats directly, unlike the long-range artillery of antibodies.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of cell-mediated immunity?