What type of cells are T-cells classified as?

T-cells are classified as white blood cells, which are essential components of the immune system. These cells play a critical role in identifying and eliminating pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, as well as cancer cells. T-cells originate from stem cells in the bone marrow but mature in the thymus gland, which is where they acquire their specific T-cell receptors that enable them to recognize antigens presented on the surfaces of infected or abnormal cells.

In the immune response, T-cells can be further divided into different types, including helper T-cells, which assist other immune cells by secreting cytokines, and cytotoxic T-cells, which directly kill infected or cancerous cells. This classification as white blood cells distinguishes T-cells from red blood cells, which are responsible for oxygen transport, platelets, which aid in blood clotting, and nerve cells, which are involved in transmitting signals in the nervous system. Thus, the classification of T-cells as white blood cells underscores their critical function in immune defense mechanisms.