What is the difference between T cells and B cells?

Answer 1

HIV infects specific cells of the White Blood Cells which are the top direct response for your immune response such that all others are affected. T and B are White Blood cells. White blood cells are your defense cells. They are different types of white blood cells that have different purposes.
White blood cells are produced inside the bone in its marrow just like Red blood cells. They are actually quite clear unless stained well under a microscope.
But Red Blood cells under the microscope because they are exposed to air are sort of a pinkish reddish color.

When WBC's are spun out to separate them by weight from serum the liquid part of the blood and RBC's it makes a whitish layer of cells.

There are different types of WBC's

T cells: CD4+ (helper) T cells co-ordinate the immune response (they are what becomes defective in an HIV infection) and are important for defence against intracellular bacteria.

Basophils are chiefly responsible for allergic and antigen response by releasing the chemical histamine causing inflammation. I thought this was the B cell you are referring to.

Each type of WBC's has a different purpose/role in immune defense.

As T cells are the top line in coordination of defense taking them out affects the entire immune defense system.

In all my training in labs I have never heard of a White Blood cell being referred to as a B cell so I am just guessing whomever named it was selecting a B for it and it may be standard now.
But I looked it up as when I was in labs HIV was still very new and their concern was for T cell counts not anything else.

Lymphocytes are much more common in the lymphatic system. The blood has three types of lymphocytes:
B cells: B cells make antibodies that bind to pathogens to enable their destruction. (B cells not only make antibodies that bind to pathogens, but after an attack, some B cells will retain the ability to produce an antibody to serve as a 'memory' system.)

What happens is when the T cell is taken out every other WBC is left without guidance etc. such that they begin to not function from what I understood about being taught.
Most WBC's are very similar in appearance excluding things like Monocytes with a large nucleus and basophils which have a great deal of speckling. They all work in the immune defense but the top cell that from what I understand informs the other cells of a new problem are actually the host cell the HIV virus has selected. Once inside the cell the HIV inserts itself into the DNA matter of the T cell so it just pumps out HIV and no longer does its job of warning and protecting the system. As it is inside the cell and a part of the cell why would it tell other cells to look for this virus and destroy it as then it would be destroyed. Essentially from what I can figure out by inserting itself into the DNA of the T cell it convinces the cell it is suppose to be there and is no longer recognized as a pathogen.

Answer 2

T cells belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocyte types, such as B cells and NK cells by the presence of a special receptor on their cell surface that is called the T cell receptor (TCR). The abbreviation "T", in T cell, stands for thymus since it is the principal organ for their development.

B cells are lymphocytes that play a large role in the humoral immune response as opposed to the cell-mediated immune response that is governed by T cells. The abbreviation "B" comes from bursa of Fabricius that is an organ in birds in which avian B cells mature. The principal function of B cells is to make antibodies against soluble antigens. B cells are an essential component of the adaptive immune system.

Answer 3

T cells have the T cell receptor and mature in the thymus...they are responsible for a variety of functions in the immune system, and the range of T cell types function as 'memory' cells, recognizing foriegn invaders (cell-mediated immunity).

B cells play a large role in the humoral immune response...they make antibodies against soluble antigens and are an essential component of the adaptive immune system. They mature in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood and lymph.

Answer 4

well for one T cells are made in the thyroid and B cells in the bone marrow. B cells are known as humoral cells, which means that these cells create memory cells for the first time it deals with an infection and the next time it encounters the same infection it defends itself by creating antibodies against it. T cells are known as cell mediated cells which means they are not memory cells. They react to a new infection by creating antibodies against the antigen, it's more like a quick response.

I hope this helps, wow it's been like 3 years I had immunology.

Answer 5

In short...They are both special white blood cells. T-cells alert the the B-cells to produce antibodies.