Conventional T Cells
Specialized immune cells that fight cancer after transplants, distinct from regulatory T cells that control immune tolerance and prevent inflammation.
Conventional T cells (Tcons) are immune cells distinct from regulatory T cells, specializing in providing essential graft-versus-leukemia activity during transplants. They preserve the anti-cancer effect that makes stem cell transplants effective, while regulatory T cells maintain immune tolerance and suppress graft-versus-host disease.
What this means in real life
When you catch a cold, conventional T cells recognize viral proteins displayed on infected cells and coordinate an immune response—some kill infected cells directly, others signal B cells to make antibodies.
What it isn’t
Not all T cells are conventional; some T cells (gamma-delta cells, NKT cells) recognize antigens through non-MHC pathways or lipid presentation. Conventional refers to the recognition mechanism, not the cell's function or location.
Commonly misused online
Often conflated with 'normal' or 'healthy' T cells, implying unconventional T cells are defective or rare. In reality, unconventional T cells are a small but functionally important subset with distinct roles in immunity.