tsütotoksilisi

Tsütotoksilisi refers to a process or substance that is toxic or damaging to cells. The term originates from the Greek words "kytos" meaning "cell" and "toxikon" meaning "poison." In biological contexts, tsütotoksilisi can describe various phenomena, including the effects of certain drugs, toxins, or immune responses.

For example, some chemotherapy drugs are tsütotoksilisi, designed to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. These drugs often work by interfering with essential cellular processes like DNA replication or cell division, leading to cell death. Similarly, certain natural toxins produced by plants or animals can exhibit tsütotoksilisi effects, causing harm to the cells of organisms that encounter them.

The immune system also employs tsütotoksilisi mechanisms. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are specialized to identify and destroy infected or cancerous cells. They achieve this by releasing toxic molecules that trigger apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in the target cell. Understanding tsütotoksilisi is crucial in fields such as medicine, pharmacology, and immunology, as it underpins the development of treatments for diseases and the study of cellular defense mechanisms. The degree of tsütotoksilisi can vary significantly, from mild, reversible damage to rapid and irreversible cell death.